Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch alleged during a council session that a rural primary school is instructing pupils that the planet faces imminent destruction.
Councillor Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) directed this criticism at employees of Ettington Primary School, located approximately five miles to the south-east of Stratford-upon-Avon, during a contentious discussion about climate change at last week’s full council gathering.
Councillor David Curtis (Lib Dem, Stour & the Vale) had earlier indicated in his remarks that he had toured the school and observed pupil-created artwork addressing climate change.
He characterised his observations as not slogans, not politics, not hysteria, but children who had listened, learned and understood, and urged Cllr Finch to attend personally and provide an honest evaluation of climate change’s effects on children who are bright, thoughtful and deeply concerned about their future.
The council leader was pressed to meet their gaze and justify why a volume helping them comprehend the dangers to their future deserves to be treated as kindling – referencing a Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council gathering where Cllr Finch, who also chairs that council, suggested a children’s climate change publication given to him by a political rival would be first on the bonfire.
Responding to the invitation as part of his broader input to the discussion, Cllr Finch questioned whether Cllr Curtis was conveying this to them, that existence is ending. Cllr Curtis replied that they were conveying it to him.
So where is this originating from, Cllr Finch pursued, triggering reactions from members seated behind him, where several of his Reform UK colleagues were present.
The left-wing teachers, an individual called out, wording that Cllr Finch repeated before demanding who is filling their heads with this.
He said elected representatives entering schools telling children existence is ending constitutes fearmongering and is hazardous.
An agitated Cllr Curtis countered that he did not enter the school delivering lectures to the children, he was asked by the headteacher to view the pupils’ artwork that they had produced, independently, on climate change. He said it was tremendously impressive.
Cllr Finch continued that he was entering schools endorsing the pupils who are being instructed by whoever on climate change.
Cllr Curtis interjected again, reaffirming his purpose for the visit and stating that he categorically rejects that insinuation.
Let’s address the fundamental issue, declared an unwavering Cllr Finch. He said you have a school that is instructing pupils that the planet faces imminent destruction and the Lib Dem councillor has attended that school.
Cllr Curtis intervened for a third occasion, saying the leader is deliberately distorting what is occurring at that school. He said it is not instructing pupils that the planet faces imminent destruction. It is providing them with scientific facts, grounded in solid evidence, to allow them to form their own conclusions based on the information supplied.
Cllr Finch subsequently directed his comments toward opposition parties, arguing that it was deeply concerning that messaging is being delivered to impressionable children who are present at schools solely to receive instruction in literacy, not to be consumed by leftist ideology. He said he considers that wrong and repugnant.