A Jewish MP was ‘banned’ from visiting a school in his constituency amid fears his presence would ‘inflame teachers’.
Labour MP Damien Egan’s trip to Bristol Brunel Academy in September was cancelled after a campaign by far-left protesters from Bristol’s National Education Union (NEU) branch and its local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group.
The Bristol North East MP was barred because of ‘safeguarding concerns’ after the activists, who claimed to be representing the views of teachers, parents, and residents, highlighted his links to the Labour Friends of Israel group.
Activists described it as a win for ‘safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together’.
One NEU representative said teachers were planning to wear keffiyehs into the school on the day of his visit and were planning ‘work that members could do with students in preparation’ before it was cancelled.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed revealed on Sunday a Jewish MP had been ‘refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency in case his presence inflames the teachers’.
‘I have a colleague who is Jewish, who has been banned from visiting a school and refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency, in case his presence inflames the teachers,’ he told the Jewish News.
‘That is an absolute outrage.’
Jewish MP Damien Egan was ‘banned’ from visiting a school in his constituency amid fears his presence would ‘inflame teachers’
The Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign boasted about the cancellation of the Labour MPs visit to the school
Asked his response to the ban, he said: ‘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. You just can’t have it.’
Mr Reed did not name his colleague but a string of social media posts from Bristol’s NEU and Palestine campaigners bragged about the cancellation of Mr Egan’s visit.
In one post from September, Bristol NEU wrote: ‘Victory for Education Workers, Parents and the Community.
‘MP Damien 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.’
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The visit to Bristol Brunel Academy (pictured) in September was cancelled after a campaign by far-left protesters from Bristol’s National Education Union (NEU) branch and its local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group
The MP has been offered enhanced security because he is married to Israeli Yossi Felberbaum. Pictured: The couple sharing a kiss after Mr Egan was elected as an MP
The school and multi-academy trust have been contacted for comment.
Mr Egan, a vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel, has faced repeated threats by anti-Israel activists since becoming an MP in 2024.
He has been offered enhanced security because he is married to Israeli Yossi Felberbaum who served in the military.
Mr Egan was born in Cork before moving with his family as a child to live in the Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire.
