'I want my daughter to...': How Starmer plans to tackle misogyny and protect children in schools

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer - File Photo

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government is committed to protecting children from misogyny and online harm, as it unveiled a new national strategy that will train teachers to confront misogynistic attitudes in schools and curb violence against women and girls.

In a post on X, Starmer framed the issue as both personal and generational. “I want my daughter to grow up in a Britain where she feels safe in school, online, and in relationships,” he wrote. “Every young girl deserves that, and every young boy should be protected from harmful misogynistic influences.”

Starmer said the government’s approach would focus on prevention and early intervention. “My government is making that happen by backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening early,” he said. “We can stop harm before it starts and save a generation of young men from the influence of online misogynists.”

I want my daughter to grow up in a Britain where she feels safe in school, online, and in relationships. Every young girl deserves that, and every young boy should be protected from harmful misogynistic influences. My government is making that happen, by backing teachers,…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 18, 2025

The prime minister’s remarks came as the government announced a £20 million strategy aimed at halving violence against women and girls over the next decade. Under the plan, teachers across England will receive specialist training to help them identify and challenge misogyny in classrooms, as well as guide students on issues such as consent, healthy relationships and the risks of sharing intimate images.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said the strategy would “deploy the full power of the state to introduce the largest crackdown to stop violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history.”

“For too long the scale of violence against women and girls has been treated as a fact of life in our country,” Phillips said.

As part of the new measures, all secondary schools in England will be required to teach students about healthy relationships. Schools will also be encouraged to identify pupils showing concerning behaviour at an early stage and direct them towards additional care and support.

“Tackling the most worrying attitudes as early as possible, schools will also send high-risk individuals to get the extra care and support they need, focused on challenging deep-rooted misogynist influences,” the government said in a statement.

A dedicated helpline will also be launched for pupils worried about their own behaviour.

The strategy follows data cited by the government showing that more than 40 percent of young men hold a positive view of so-called manosphere influencer Andrew Tate. Separate figures show that in the past year alone, one in eight women in Britain experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.

Starmer said the new approach was about “driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men,” signalling a shift towards tackling misogyny before it escalates into violence.