The debate was illuminating because it teased out the full spectrum of MPs’ views, mirroring those of their constituents. They ranged from unequivocal support for this subject to be taught through to strengthening parents’ rights to remove their children from sex education. The fulcrum of MPs’ concerns was, unsurprisingly, “the teaching of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues” which some members saw as “contested territory between the protected characteristics of the Equalities Act” They wanted to know how school and parent disagreements would be resolved and what constituted the “exceptional circumstances” in which secondary aged pupils could be withdrawn from sex education. Religious beliefs and cultural tenets from Christianity, Islam and Judaism were invoked.