Make it an offence for schools to restrict pupil access to literary works in school libraries. Our children deserve access to diverse perspectives and ideas through literature, limiting their access based on individual biases curtails their intellectual and moral development.

The UK, stands on a decision-making brink. We can either choose to narrow the minds of our youth or open their horizons by allowing them access to a vast range of literature, even those with challenging themes. Encouraging critical thinking should be at the forefront of our educational policies, and this means protecting the availability of diverse and sometimes controversial literature. Multiple studies confirm that exposure to a wide array of ideas through reading and discussing different viewpoints results in better performance in critical thinking assessments. Our county has a responsibility to provide an environment where students can learn and question freely, preparing them to be informed, conscientious citizens.