The Independent – Revealed: LGBTQ+ books are banned from UK schools
The Independent leads with an exclusive report saying LGBT+ books are being banned from UK schools after complaints from parents. A six-month investigation by Index on Censorship, the results of which have been shared exclusively with The Independent, found that 53 per cent of UK school librarians polled had been asked to remove literature and in more than half of those cases books were taken off shelves. Library staff, MPs and charities have warned banning books is a worrying regression in LGBT+ rights and can be harmful to young people.
Elsewhere, the front page leads with a tribute to French film star Alain Delon – who has died at the age of 88.
A banner at the top of the paper reports former Commons leader Penny Mordaunt has warned the upcoming budget is a ‘diplomatic signal as well as a fiscal event’.
Investigation reveals UK schools are banning LGBT+ books after complaints from parents
LGBT+ books are being banned from UK schools after complaints from parents, librarians have revealed.
A six-month investigation by Index on Censorship, the results of which have been shared exclusively with The Independent, found that 53 per cent of UK school librarians polled had been asked to remove literature and in more than half of those cases books were taken off shelves.
The snapshot survey found that more than two dozen librarians had experienced such censorship, with one saying they had been told to remove every book with an LGBT+ theme after a single complaint from one parent about one book.
The responses revealed that specific titles removed from school libraries included This Book Is Gay, by Juno Dawson, a memoir about a young person discovering their sexual identity; Julián is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love, a picture book about a gender non-conforming boy who dreams of being a mermaid; and the alphabet book ABC Pride, by Louie Stowell, Elly Barnes and Amy Phelps, which introduces young readers to the alphabet while they learn more about the LGBT+ community.
Penny Mordaunt accuses Labour of ‘burying its head in the sand’ over defence spending
Penny Mordaunt has accused the government of burying its head in the sand on defence, amid reports Labour is planning on cuts in the forthcoming budget.
Writing in The Independent, the former Tory leadership hopeful warned that Labour’s first Budget, which will be delivered on 30 October, “is the only opportunity they have” to demonstrate that the UK is serious about “playing their part in defending our collective interests”.
Ms Mordaunt warned that it is a “diplomatic signal as well as a fiscal event”, saying any decision not to invest enough in defence could indicate that the UK is “not a reliable partner” and lead to “grave consequences” for the nation.
Amid growing global instability, with wars raging in both the Middle East and Ukraine, Ms Mordaunt said that “what the UK chooses has never mattered more”.
Alain Delon: President Macron leads tributes to ‘French monument’ who has died aged 88
Tributes have poured in for French film star Alain Delon who died peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family, at the age of 88.
Regarded as the “male Brigitte Bardot”, Delon was often cast as the romantic heartthrob and starred in classics such as Plein Soleil, Le Samouraï, and Rocco and His Brothers.
Leading the tributes, French president Emmanuel Macron said the actor “played legendary roles and made the world dream”, which cemented him as a national icon.
Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read
Editorial 19 August 2024.
Monday’s front pages reflect various domestic issues facing the country including the latest from Westminster and a round-up of this weekend’s Premier League action.
Several of the papers feature an image of French actor Alain Delon, who has died at the age of 88. Several other more right-leaning – and tabloids – lead with images of Prince Harry and Meghan who visited Colombia last week.
The back pages are heavily dominated by football as the weekend saw the return of England’s top flight.