A planned visit by a Labour Member of Parliament to a secondary school in Bristol was called off at short notice following concerns over a public protest linked to the MP's stance on Israel.
Visit Postponed Following Campaign
The event, which involved Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, was scheduled to take place at Bristol Brunel Academy. However, the school decided to postpone after becoming aware of a campaign by the Bristol branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
The PSC group claimed a "victory" in having the visit postponed. They cited Mr Egan's recent trips to Israel and his position as vice-chair of the Labour Friends of Israel group as reasons for their opposition.
Government Minister Condemns Decision
The move prompted a strong reaction from the government, with Communities Secretary Steve Reed condemning it as an "absolute outrage". Speaking to the editor of Jewish News, Mr Reed stated that the school would be "held to account" for its decision.
He went further, suggesting the incident was an example of antisemitism that needs to be challenged. The criticism places significant political pressure on the school's leadership.
School Cites Safety and Reschedules
In response to the developing situation, Bristol Brunel Academy issued a clarification. A spokesperson confirmed that the visit was postponed, not cancelled, specifically due to worries about a planned public protest and the potential disruption it could cause.
The school emphasised that an alternative date has now been arranged for the MP to attend, though the specific details of the new visit have not been made public. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday 13 January 2026, highlights the increasing sensitivity and community tensions surrounding the issue in some UK constituencies.
