Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, Hits Out At 'Highly Offensive' Telegraph 'Slutty Slaggy Schoolgirls' Article

Daily Telegraph Bows To Pressure From Green MP Over 'Highly Offensive' Headline
Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas gives an address at the launch of the party's general election manifesto in London on April 14, 2015. Britain goes to the polls on May 7 to elect a new parliament. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas gives an address at the launch of the party's general election manifesto in London on April 14, 2015. Britain goes to the polls on May 7 to elect a new parliament. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images

Britain's sole Green MP has attacked The Daily Telegraph for publishing a "highly offensive" headline and picture on a blog post she wrote for the paper.

Caroline Lucas hit out at the publication's editors, who complemented her piece encouraging compulsory personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons for schoolchildren to protect them against sexual abuse, with a picture of pupils from the film 'St Trinians' and a title reading: "Britain's 'slutty slaggy' schoolgirls need David Cameron to sort sex education. Fast"

The original article claimed that such classes would teach kids how to resist and deal with sexual abuse, particularly potent in the wake of scandals involving celebrities and politicians.

Despite the paper back-peddling to avoid a social media frenzy, first adjusting the offending headline then changing its accompanying photo, Lucas and many of her supporters decried the original slip-up as "appalling", "misleading" and "sexist".

Lucas tweeted about the incident herself on Wednesday, saying: "A great shame that the Telegraph gave this dreadful headline to my piece about the PSHE Bill. Highly offensive."

She was joined quickly by supporters, many angry at the editorial decision.

Others demanded action, many calling for the edits to Lucas's piece to be amended, and some even for an apology.

The Green MP's parliamentary press officer, Matthew Butcher, confirmed he had contacted the paper asking them to change the offending material.

Hours later, Telegraph officials bowed to public pressure, replacing the provocative photo of 'St Trinnians' schoolgirls and offering a more measured headline.

But it didn't manage to placate everyone.

The Daily Telegraph did not responded to a request for comment by the time this story went live.

You can read The Huffington Post UK's take on Lucas's original call for compulsory PSHE classes here.

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