Birmingham MPs have criticised a demonstration which took place outside Parkfield School, the Birmingham school at the centre of a controversy over the teaching of relationship education.

A video widely circulated on social media shows a protest in which a man with a megaphone leads parents and pupils in a chant of "shame, shame, shame".

Parkfield, a primary school in Saltley, teaches a programme called No Outsiders which is designed to encourage children to be "happy and excited about living in a community full of difference and diversity". It covers issues such as race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or religion.

Liam Byrne is the Labour MP for Hodge Hill, and the school is in his constituency. Following the protest, he said on Twitter: "Tolerance, compassion, kindness & grace to others is THE defining quality of our city's success When TOLERANCE is under attack - as it is today - we'll defend it with everything we've got Because we've learned the hard way in this world, an attack on one is an attack on all."

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said: "I feel heartbroken by the video circulating, which I will not repost from outside a Birmingham school.

"Truly heartbroken it is so damaging for both LGBTQI community but also harms the Muslim community and does not represent our city at all."

She went on to say: "I will challenge the intolerance, which is too weak a word, it's bigotry and hatred and I am deeply hurt by it."

Richard Burden, Labour MP for Northfield, said: "Very shocked and saddened by video of an inflammatory speech and chants outside a Birmingham school whose only 'crime' has been to teach respect for others, irrespective of their sexuality, race, religion, gender identity, age or disability.

"Birmingham is better than this."

Protests outside Parkfield Community School

The video shows a speaker telling protestors that the "No Outsiders" programme taught at the primary school "is not just about telling people that other families, other types of lifestyles exist.

"It's actually aggressively promoting them, giving it a positive spin, and telling people that it is okay for you to be Muslim and for you to be gay."

He then chants "shame" repeatedly, and a crowd of protesters including children join in.

Earlier in the week, Mr Byrne set out his views on the Parkfield protests in a series of Tweets. He said he was working with faith groups and Stonewall, the  LGBT rights campaign group which has produced guidance for schools, to try to end the protests.

MP Liam Byrne
MP Liam Byrne

His comments were not a response to the video. Mr Byrne said:"The Equality Act was a huge, proud Labour achievement. Our goal was radically simple: fighting discrimination in all its forms. Thats why we believe it’s vital that children learn about and celebrate diversity at all ages.

"That’s why I’m I’m working with school leaders, Stonewall, LGBT+ reps & faith groups to make sure we have the patient dialogue so all parents know what’s being taught - and why. Because we all gain from building a genuinely inclusive society for each other & our children.

"As a dad of three kids in Birmingham schools, my focus is on putting children first. That’s why I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure our schools have an inclusive environment. Because what I want for my kids is what I want for all kids.

"So calm & patient conversations with parents & the community will continue to resolve concerns - because as Stonewall put it, ‘the support of the community is essential in creating this inclusive approach’. And I’ve asked the Secretary of State for Education to join me

"The last thing we need right now is demos on the school gates. What we need is calm and grace, civility and conversation round a table. With tea."

Specific storybooks read during No Outsiders lessons at Parkfield Community School
Storybooks read during No Outsiders lessons at Parkfield Community School

Earlier this week Hazel Pulley, CEO of Excelsior Multi Academy Trust which runs Parkfield, said there had been positive feedback from parents who had been invited to see the lessons take place first-hand.

She added that it was a "small, vocal minority" continuing the protests against No Outsiders with support from "other areas of the community".

The protests have sparked a strong reaction from people who feel they are homophobic and should be challenged.

Owen Jones, the journalist and campaigner, said: "This is horrifying, and we’re going to defeat this bigotry and stand with LGBTQ people and their allies - whether they’re Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or non believers."

Adil Ray, the Birmingham comedian and Good Morning Britain presenter, has defended the school, saying on Twitter: "The No Outsiders programme is designed to make all minorities welcome and equal - something the Muslim community should know all about."