AN MP has outlined his reasons for being just one of 21 to vote against new sex education laws.

MP for North East Hampshire, Ranil Jayawardena, voted against legislation which would see, among other things, LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education being made compulsory in all secondary schools.

The legislation, if passed by the House of Lords, will also mean that relationship education would be introduced at primary school level.

Mr Jayawardena said: “It a shame that some are spinning the story without the facts.

“While I did not vote in favour of the regulations, this was not because I had concerns about the principle of providing relationships and sex education to children, or whatever might or might not be taught. In fact, I voted with the government in support of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, which was the law that required RSE to be taught at primary and secondary schools.

“Quite simply, I opposed the regulations out of concern for the extent to which they remove the right of parents to choose their children’s education, as the final decision on whether a child can be removed from sex education will now rest with headteachers rather than parents.

“While I may not always agree with the reasons why a parent may decide to withdraw their child from sex education, overturning them seriously undermines the role and authority of parents and constitutes a fundamental shift in the relationship between the state and the family.”