Young ‘afraid to dispute idea of white privilege’

NEARLY half of Britain’s young people are too frightened of being ostracised to challenge beliefs in ‘white privilege’, a poll shows.

It reveals that 59 per cent of school leavers have been taught ‘critical race theory’ – the premise by American academics that racism shapes Western life and white people enjoy advantages because of their colour.

But the survey by think-tank Policy Exchange shows that 40 per cent of 18- to 20-year-olds taught about white privilege were afraid to disagree it exists. Some said they worried about being expelled.

The poll also reveals that 42 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds believe schools should ‘teach students that Britain was founded on racism and remains structurally racist today’.

Dr Samir Shah, of the Government Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, said: ‘These new attitudes challenge the foundations of liberal thought – free speech, tolerance, debate and democracy.’

Toby Young of the Free Speech Union said: ‘Schools should not be teaching these theories as if they were indisputably true. It leaves children ashamed of their country.’

A total of 1,542 18- to 20-year-olds were questioned in the survey.