In June 2023, a story spread like butter on hot toast among the right-wing press. A pupil at an East Sussex secondary school allegedly “identified as a cat”. When they were questioned by another pupil, the teacher branded the challenger’s views as “despicable”.
The fallout prompted comments from the prime minister, whose spokesperson said teachers should “not be teaching contested opinions as fact or shutting down valid discussions and debates”, and from Keir Starmer, whose
