Keir Starmer promises action over cancellation of Jewish MP’s school visit | Bristol

Keir Starmer has promised action against union activists and campaigners who pushed for the cancellation of a school visit by an MP who is vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Pro-Palestine activists and National Education Union members said they opposed the visit by Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, because they viewed him as supportive of Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

The cancellation took place in September but the issue was raised on Sunday by the communities secretary, Steve Reed, who said a Jewish colleague was banned from visiting a school amid concerns his presence would “inflame” teachers.

At prime minister’s questions in the Commons on Wednesday, the Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp accused the campaigners of antisemitism and said Egan had been “prevented from visiting a school in his constituency because he is Jewish”.

Starmer replied: “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.

“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.”

The bulk of PMQs involved Starmer fending off accusations from Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, that his government was in chaos after another U-turn, this time over changes to how a planned digital ID system will work.

Calling digital ID “a rubbish policy”, Badenoch began her questions by saying: “Can I welcome the prime minister’s latest U-turn? I feel like I say that every week.”

Starmer replied: “She talks about U-turns and consistency – from the party that used to recognise the challenge of climate change, and now they run from it, who promised to cut immigration, but then lost control of it, who once took great pride in our diversity, [and] now they talk of deporting our neighbours to achieve cultural coherence.”

Badenoch went on to castigate Starmer for other recent policy switches, including climbdowns over a rise in inheritance tax for farmers and business rate hikes for pubs.

Reed had told a Jewish Labour Movement conference on Sunday: “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. That is an absolute outrage.”

He did not name the colleague but sources close to Egan confirmed he was talking about the MP’s planned visit in September.

After the visit was called off, Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign wrote on Facebook: “The planned school visit by Damien Egan, MP for Bristol North East, has been cancelled after concerns were raised by the NEU [National Education 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.”

On its Facebook page, Bristol NEU wrote: “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.”