Entrepreneur and author Simon Squibb slams 'dangerous' Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Entrepreneur, best selling author, and social media sensation Simon Squibb has taken to LinkedIn to hit out at the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will introduce wide ranging changes, including a register of children in England who are not currently attending school, as well as increased powers for councils.

Members of the House of Lords begin their examination of the bill in committee stage on Tuesday.

In a LinkedIn post, Squibb, who has amassed millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, said: "My son is in danger. This is the most important message I’ll ever write…But our freedom is at stake. There’s currently a bill, passing through parliament disguised as “safety.” But instead, it’s a threat to our freedom."

He added: "The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill gives local authorities the control to decide what your child learns. Stripping parents of their fundamental right to raise their own child. If you don’t comply…They can imprison you. But that's not even the worse bit….This bill gives any future government power to restrict progressive ideas, religious education, or alternative worldviews and bars you from taking your child out to teach elsewhere."

"Now I’m not saying the Labour Party will do this. But once this bill passes, it won’t go back. That means any government will have the freedom to act on it. This is how control creeps in. Every year more laws are quietly added…Chipping away at your freedom each time. But this one can not go through."

"They're going to tell you it’s about “child protection”. But it’s about state control. Whatever your political stance. Left or right. We need to come together and ensure this doesn’t happen. Tell your MP. Tag them. DM them. Tell the Prime Minister Keir Stamer this is not OK. My dream has always been to change the education system. I tried to get into politics. I spoke to the Minister of Education. I could never get through, so I decided social media was my best bet. But with this bill my dream dies. If I’ve ever brought you any value now’s the time to help me protect what matters most…Our kids.”

Best life chances

The government says the reforms are needed to protect thousands of vulnerable children.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We want children to have the best life chances no matter the education setting. That's why the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce new measures to help local authorities in their role ensuring all children receive a suitable education."

Ellie Pirrie from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the bill should not negatively impact home educating families.

"It's about upholding parents' rights to home educate but also about balancing that with the existing duties of local authorities," she commented, adding that for the vast majority of families "nothing should change".