Downing Street today condemned ‘intolerance’ after a Jewish MP’s visit to a school was cancelled following a campaign by pro-Palestinian teachers and parents.
Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, had been due to speak to students at Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency.
But the visit was called off due to ‘safeguarding’ concerns after activists highlighted his links to the Labour Friends of Israel group.
The cancellation took place in September but has been highlighted now after Cabinet minister Steve Reed told a recent conference about a Jewish MP being banned.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘The law is clear. Schools must be impartial and freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental value in this country and one we must absolutely protect.
‘We cannot have a society where intolerance is accepted practice and those holding opposing views are barred or banned from certain environments.
‘Particularly our schools, which are shaping young minds and teaching them how to behave in the world.’
Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, had been due to speak to students at Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency
After Mr Egan’s planned visit was cancelled in September, the Bristol branch of the National Education Union (NEU) hailed a ‘victory for education workers, parents and the community’
Speaking at a Jewish Labour Movement conference on Sunday, Mr Reed said a Jewish MP was refused permission to visit a school ‘in case his presence inflames the teachers’.
‘That is an absolute outrage,’ the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary added.
‘They will be called in, and they will be held to account for doing that, because you cannot have people with those kinds of attitudes teaching our children.’
After Mr Egan’s planned visit was cancelled in September, the Bristol branch of the National Education Union (NEU) hailed a ‘victory for education workers, parents and the community’.
Bristol NEU posted on Facebook: ‘Damian [sic] Egan’s planned school visit at Bristol Brunel Academy this Friday has been cancelled after concerns were raised by the NEU trade union staff group, parents and local constituents.
‘This is a clear message: politicians who openly support Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza are not welcome in our schools.
‘Egan is Vice Chair of Labour Friends of Israel and has visited Israel since the current onslaught on Gaza began, demonstrating his support.
‘We celebrate this cancellation as a win for safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together.’
The Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign also posted the same message on its Facebook page.
Mr Egan converted to Judaism after meeting his Israeli-born husband Yossi Felberbaum
Home Office minister Ales Norris told Times Radio on Tuesday that the NEU should ‘relect’ on Mr Egan’s cancelled visit.
‘Children, young people are actually very interested in the issue, you know, around Gaza, around the Government’s policies,’ he said.
‘Closing young people off from that actually is a really bad thing to do.’
‘Certainly, as a lifelong trade unionist, I would never have suggested that to colleagues.
‘They really ought to reflect on that as to whether that was the right situation to put teachers into.
‘And whether that was, whether that really supported, that helped their children, that I know is their priority, have the best possible education.’
Mr Egan converted to Judaism after meeting his Israeli-born husband Yossi Felberbaum.
A spokesperson for Bristol Brunel Academy said: ‘Damien Egan MP… in common with other local MPs from across the political spectrum – was invited in September to visit Bristol Brunel Academy, a secondary school situated in his constituency of Bristol North East.
‘Mr Egan was due to discuss democracy and the role of an MP, while helping to raise aspirations among students who may have an interest in pursuing similar career paths.
‘On the evening before Mr Egan’s scheduled visit, we were made aware of plans for a public protest outside the school.
‘As this protest was scheduled to coincide with the end in the school day, we opted to postpone Mr Egan’s visit to ensure everyone would continue to feel safe when entering and exiting school and to prevent any disruption to our students’ learning.
‘We have remained in contact with Mr Egan, and an alternative date for his visit was arranged some time ago.
‘We have also been in contact with the police and followed their advice.’