Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to hold activists to account after a planned school visit by a Jewish Labour MP was cancelled following pressure from pro-Palestine campaigners and a teaching union.
Visit Blocked Over MP's Israel Links
The incident concerns Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, who is also vice-chair of the Labour Friends of Israel group. His scheduled visit to a school in his constituency in September was called off after objections were raised.
Campaigners from the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign and members of the National Education Union (NEU) staff group opposed the visit. They stated they viewed Egan as supportive of Israel's military actions in Gaza, following his visit to Israel after the conflict began.
PMQ Confrontation and Allegations of Antisemitism
The issue was brought to national attention this week. On Sunday, Communities Secretary Steve Reed told a Jewish Labour Movement conference that a Jewish colleague had been "banned" from a school in his own constituency, with concerns raised that his presence would "inflame" teachers.
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp raised the case explicitly, accusing the campaigners of antisemitism and stating Egan had been "prevented from visiting a school in his constituency because he is Jewish".
In response, Keir Starmer said: "Can I start by thanking you for raising this case, because it is very serious, very concerning, and all members of parliament should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places without any fear of antisemitism."
The Prime Minister confirmed action would be taken, stating: "We do take this seriously. We are providing more funding for security and support we're putting in across the country, and we will be holding to account those who prevented this visit to this school."
Campaign Groups Celebrate Cancellation as a 'Win'
Following the cancellation in September, the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign posted on Facebook, calling it a "clear message" that politicians who "openly support Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza are not welcome in our schools."
Similarly, the Bristol branch of the NEU also celebrated the outcome on social media, describing it as a "win for safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together."
The case highlights the ongoing tensions within communities and institutions in the UK regarding the conflict in Gaza and the boundaries of political discourse, with serious allegations of antisemitism now at its centre.
