A TalkTV guest expressed her frustration over reports that children as young as five are being “asked to write Valentine’s Day cards to migrants and asylum seekers”. Last week, it was reported that pupils at schools across the UK were asked to ‘send messages of love and solidarity’ on February 14 last year by creating handmade cards. It was also claimed that the cards had slogans including ‘you’re welcome here!’ and ‘I love refugee rights, stop the Rwanda scheme’. Many of the cards also reportedly included an orange heart symbol, which symbolises compassion for people fleeing war.

On TalkTV, Connie Shaw from the Free Speech Union weighed in on the topic and said: “I think it’s grooming. Children should not be writing Valentine’s Day cards to any men, regardless of where they’re from.”

She added: “No child should be doing this. It’s almost like letting your guard down. So if this child witnessed something happen to their friends, they’ll then say, ‘Hang on a sec, these are the people that I’ve been told I’m meant to love and support their rights? These are the good guys?'”

Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, remarked that “children as young as five shouldn’t be used to push political agendas.”

What’s more, Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, claimed Labour is turning classrooms into “propaganda hubs” and “weaponising pupils”.

He said: “Labour’s Britain is one where safeguarding is thrown out the window, classrooms are turned into propaganda hubs, and children are weaponised to push a dangerous ideology.

“Classrooms should be for teaching maths, not immigration. Labour-run Birmingham council are allowing political campaigning to creep into our schools.”

According to the Telegraph, pupils at one school made cards which were delivered to St Chad’s Sanctuary, a local group which supports asylum seekers.

Another school’s Valentine’s Day card-making was widely circulated on social media by the Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary group.