James Esses is a writer, commentator and co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists.
Today, Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, has pledged in a Guardian article that ‘Labour will lead on reform of transgender rights.’ At first glance, you could be fooled into thinking this is a positive intervention. For starters, Dodds has rowed back on the policy of self-ID, perhaps after seeing the chaotic collapse
It is hard not to be increasingly concerned about the safeguarding of children at Childline, an arm of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). I believe that young, vulnerable and impressionable children are being exposed to worrying material, grounded in ideology, on the charity’s website. Childline runs a message board which children can use to
One afternoon in May 2021, as I was sat at my desk, an email notification from my university course appeared on my screen. ‘Termination of Contract’ was the subject line. I crumbled into pieces on the floor. I was fortunate to be at my mother’s house at the time and she comforted me. But
When Channel 4’s new programme Naked Education – in which adults strip naked in front of children – was launched, it promised viewers it would be ‘all about body positivity’, and that it had a mission to ‘champion our differences and break down stereotypes’. In the very first episode one of the participants, Martha, stated: ‘you have to accept yourself
TikTok is perpetuating significant harm to the welfare and wellbeing of young children. This week, it was announced by the UK’s data protection authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), that they were handing down a £12.7 million fine to TikTok for significant breaches of data protection law. It is one of the largest fines to
Scotland has been deprived of the opportunity for a fresh start. Humza Yousaf has been elected leader of the Scottish National party, and he is set to be confirmed as first minister today in the Scottish parliament. Yousaf defeated runner-up Kate Forbes by 52 to 48 per cent on second preference votes. The margin of
The hyper-sexualisation of children’s shows in the name of ‘diversity and inclusion’ continues to grip the United Kingdom. The latest incarnation to emerge is the ‘Caba Baba Rave’ – a ‘cabaret sensory rave for parents and their babies 0-2 years’ – which has been performing in London and was due to appear in Waterloo on 11 March.
On Sunday 22 January 2023, Darren Moore was found dead. Moore was a long-standing and well-known drag artist in Cardiff where he lived. He was also a convicted child rapist. The fact that news outlets had the ability to report on the colour of Moore’s wig but not on the atrocious crimes he
Childline has acted as a haven for struggling children for over 35 years. In 2006, it became part of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), to further its child safeguarding mission. However, in recent years Childline has chosen ideology over safeguarding. I should know; I used to work there. I was a
