A former Conservative councillor has called for the removal of the novel Pigeon English from a school in Weymouth, Dorset, citing its use of profane language and depictions of violence and sexual behaviour. James Farquharson, who had previously objected to Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give, also targeted Stephen Kelman's Booker Prize-nominated novel, which has been used as a GCSE text since 2015.
Farquharson's objections were based on his reading of the first 13 pages and a review search, according to author Stephen Kelman. In a letter to the school, Farquharson argued that educators should select books that teach pupils their 'cultural inheritance', a stance Kelman criticises as implying a monocultural society. The school temporarily removed The Hate U Give from its Year 10 reading list but reinstated it after a campaign by parent Vicky McNab.
Kelman, who drew on his upbringing on a diverse Luton council estate and the 2000 killing of Damilola Taylor for Pigeon English, said the novel was intended for adults but was later added to the GCSE curriculum with approval from a Conservative education secretary. He noted that teachers have reported the book engages students by representing familiar worlds and characters, making them feel seen.
The controversy highlights tensions between parental objections and the educational value of addressing difficult themes. Kelman warned that removing books risks prioritising one individual's comfort over students' access to literature that speaks to their experiences.
