The Bristol branch of the National Education Union (NEU), which drew criticism for blocking a school visit from Jewish MP Damien Egan over his pro-Israel views, also barred an Israeli tech firm from a school trust conference, it has emerged.
Union-affiliated school staff who blocked Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East and vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel, from addressing students in September also successfully pressured their multi-academy trust to cancel a speaker from Israeli-owned cyber security company Check Point, according to The Times.
Members of the Bristol branch claimed responsibility for both cancellations, with branch secretary Micheala Wilde boasting on social media that union representatives were “very proud” to have no-platformed Egan and Check Point.
She warned opponents “don’t mess” with the NEU, as “we are not here to play”.
Wilde told local publication The Bristol Cable that the union had successfully pressured the schools trust to disinvite Charlotte Wilson, a representative of Check Point and a cybersecurity expert, from its summer conference.
Egan’s planned visit in September last year had been cancelled after protests were planned and teachers threatened to wear keffiyehs to school on the day. School leaders claimed the visit was postponed due to “safeguarding concerns”.
Ministers condemned the decision, with Communities Secretary Steve Reed saying the incident was an “outrage” and the school’s leaders would be held to account. Education Minister Olivia Bailey said MPs should have a basic democratic right to visit schools.
The government’s former counter-extremism adviser Lord Walney said the episode was “sinister” and warned the NEU could face an Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation over antisemitism.
Egan’s visit has since been rescheduled.
The NEU, which said the head office had no knowledge that the school had rescinded Egan’s invitation to speak before it was reported in the press, adding that it opposes antisemitism and supports democratic engagement.
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