Baroness in trans free speech row with pupil DEFENDS the student's right to disagree with her

The peer embroiled in a row over an 18-year-old girl who was reportedly hounded out of her school for defending the right to question transgender ideology has backed the teenager’s right to disagree with her.

Britain’s ‘cancel culture’ crisis was pulled into sharp focus last week when it was claimed that the A-level student had been branded a ‘heretic’ for questioning pro-trans remarks made by the member of the House of Lords when she visited the school.

The sixth-former was reportedly subjected to a verbal ‘pile-on’ by up to 60 students after debating her views with the peer during a questions-and-answers session at the private school in the Home Counties.

Last night, the Baroness – who The Mail on Sunday is not naming to protect the identity of the student – said she felt she had parted on amicable terms with the pupil.

The peer embroiled in a row over an 18-year-old girl who was reportedly hounded out of her school for defending the right to question transgender ideology has backed the teenager’s right to disagree with her (file photo)

‘I spoke about a wide range of human rights issues,’ the peer said. ‘One young woman challenged some of my views and was treated with the same courtesy as everyone else who took part.’

She added: ‘I was not aware of any consequences from our interactions and thought that we had parted on amicable terms.’

Insisting the young woman had ‘the right to make her views known’, the Baroness joined politicians and advocates who have said the girl should have been free to argue her case

Among them is Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, who last week condemned the ‘utterly shameful treatment’ of the sixth-former by students gripped by ‘quasi-religious fanaticism’.

The Baroness’s comments may bring some comfort to the 18-year-old, whose experience was highlighted by one of her teachers on the Transgender Trends website.

Yesterday, the girl told The Times: ‘It made me think I was mad. Otherwise how could people turn on me so bitterly?’

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi described the row as ‘hugely concerning’.

It is understood that the school disputes the version of events outlined in the media.