07/06/2026
In 2017, we wrote to Jeremy Corbyn as the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, highlighting and providing evidence of serious failings within the Government’s safeguarding systems, related to bullying, physical and sexual violence in UK schools including rapes. He was asked to meet in order that he could be presented with the evidence that demonstrated this, so that further harm and loss of life could be prevented. Ultimately a response was received from his office saying that he was unable to meet. From 2019 to 2020 he was asked to attend 3 separate meetings in Leeds, Westminster and then in Parliament itself, to hear from a number of grieving families who had lost children to suicide or had them seriously harmed or killed, in relation to the issues and to again be presented with the evidence that showed that the failings were to blame. On each occasion a response was sent to say that he could not attend.
Since 2017, over a period of 9 years, I as well as parents, carers and supporters of the Safer Schools Campaign, have written to Jeremy on numerous occasions, requesting that he intervene to ensure that lives could be saved. He was consistently made aware and presented with evidence to show that the failings were consistently being covered up by the Department for Education (DfE) and government ministers. He was told that as a result the situation was getting worse, with more and more families coming forward to show that their children had been harmed, lost to suicide or killed as a consequence. He was also provided with evidence to show that the failings had led to an increasing number of tragedies involving children, including the tragic Southport murders of 2024. He was warned that based on the Government’s own evidence, more events like this would be inevitable if the failings continued to be ignored and that therefore, many more lives would be lost if he failed to act. Despite this, Jeremy has never taken any steps whatsoever to ensure that the issues would be investigated.
On 20 May 2026, 9 years after those initial calls to meet, a chance meeting in the City of London meant that I was finally able to present the evidence to him.
He was shown judgments and court documents from both the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as letters from the UN, the Head of Human Rights for the EU and the London Metropolitan Police, that all expressed concerns regarding the potential criminal failure of MPs and others to investigate the allegations since 2014. He was also shown paperwork regarding my forced return by the UK Government to the UK as a whistleblower and informed about the threats to my life that I now faced as a consequence. He asked what now needed to happen. I explained that all he needed to do to ensure that thousands of lives could be saved, was to raise the issue in Parliament and demand that the failings be fully investigated not only by Government but importantly by the UK Education Select Committee in a public and transparent forum.
Crucially in terms of accountability, Jeremy took one of our campaign postcards, which sets out a number of important facts. He then asked if he could contact us through the details on there and promised to act.
It is now almost 3 weeks since we spoke. In that time he has failed to make contact or take any steps whatsoever in relation to the issues. What this shows beyond all doubt, is that the failure of MPs to look into the issues is not an accident. MPs are fully aware of the reality of the abuse and suffering that children are facing in schools and why so many either refuse or are unable to attend, resulting in threats of imprisonment and fines for families, from the same politicians who refuse to investigate a potential cause.
When Jeremy Corbyn, considered by many to be one of the most ethical, moral and respected politicians in the country, is unwilling to act, despite knowing that to do so would immediately help protect millions of children from the risks of serious harm and death, then the public should know that something is very wrong .
Our public challenge to Jeremy now is simply this. Prove us wrong and show that you are willing to speak out on behalf of millions of children and families across the country, who cannot speak for themselves and to put their lives before the protection of the Establishment and all those in Parliament who we have elected to represent us.
To present this challenge directly to Jeremy, we are asking parents, carers and those who support our campaign to send him a copy of the letter we have provided, asking him to act in accordance with the requests that the letter has set out.
To do so please use the template here and email it to him as directed.
PLEASE NOTE: In this specific case it doesn’t matter if he is not your MP; (1) He may not respond to non-constituents but receiving emails from across the UK, will ensure that he is aware of the widespread public interest regarding his commitment to act, which will in turn bring its own pressure. (2) He is the Leader of the new ‘Your Party’ so can respond or act in that capacity.
Jason Barnett
Safer Schools Campaign Lead