Cllr Paul Elgood

Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrat Councillors Paul Elgood and David Watkins supported Stonewall's work last week during Anti-Bullying Week, highlighting the devastating impact of bullying and how to protect vulnerable young people.

The result of bullying is not only lower educational achievement but an increase in the rate of self-harm and suicide among young lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Stonewall were asking for support for their Education for All campaign to tackle homophobic bullying in schools.

Cllr Paul Elgood said:
"Young people need the time and space to come to terms with who they are and how they want to live their lives.  It is too easy for playground comments to become bullying.  If this goes unchecked a young person's life can be made a misery.  Schools must continue to work to tackle awareness of this issue and tackle bullying. They school bullying of today can easily become the hate crime of tomorrow, which is especially significant at a time of increased concerns over community safety in the city."

For more information about the Liberal Democrats view:
www.brighton-hovelibdems.org.uk

For more information about Stonewall view:
www.stonewall.org.uk