Labour faces backlash from Britain's largest teaching union over anti-Semitism report

Labour was on Wednesday night facing a backlash from Britain's largest teaching union over its review into anti-Semitism in schools.

The National Education Union (NEU) accused the Government of taking the 'wrong approach' by asking all schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

General secretary Daniel Kebede said while anti-Semitism 'is on a steep rise and must be tackled', the measure would have a 'chilling' effect and 'shut down legitimate discussion'.

It was one of 27 recommendations in a Labour-commissioned report into anti-Semitism, with the Government pledging today to accept them all in full. 

The IHRA definition says that as well as 'hatred of Jews', anti-Semitism can also include 'targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity' – unless the criticism is 'similar to that levelled against any other country'. It also includes 11 examples of antisemitism, some of which are to do with Israel. 

Mr Kebede, whose union has half a million members, said: 'The IHRA's contested framing risks blurring the line between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and the genocide in Gaza…

'Schools must enable young people to confront difficult issues openly and develop empathy, not drive teachers into silence or leave pupils afraid to express their views.'

He added that it risks children who 'cannot critically explore issues' in the classroom 'seeking their answers in online and unsafe groups'.

And he said that the review's recommendations also 'wrongly call into question the professionalism of teachers'.

The independent review by Sir David Bell, published today, also recommended embedding anti-Semitism into safeguarding policies, training teachers and instructing Ofsted to hold schools to account on it. 

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: 'The NEU's response is pathetic. To portray the adoption of the IHRA definition as chilling debate on Gaza shows a staggering lack of understanding for the fear Jewish people in this country are living with.'

She added that the review did not go far enough in holding teaching unions to account on anti-Semitism.

The review points out that while unions have made some Jewish members feel that 'their concerns are not taken seriously', they are not 'inherently anti-Semitic'.

And it recommends unions should have 'robust policies and processes to tackle anti-Semitism'.

Ms Trott referred to the case of NEU members 'pressuring' Bristol Brunel Academy to cancel a visit by Damien Egan, a Jewish MP and vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel, last year.

At the time, the school said the visit had been cancelled for safety reasons due to protests planned outside the school. 

Ms Trott pointed out that one of those identified as taking part is still in her post.

'The Bell Review is welcome, but unions are being left with a free pass to mark their own homework,' she added. 'Without real accountability, nothing will change.'

Responding to Ms Trott, Mr Kebede said a separate independent review of the NEU took place this year by Karon Monaghan KC which concluded there was no evidence of systemic anti-Semitism in the union.

'The NEU has a zero tolerance on anti-Semitism and all forms of racism,' he said.

Today's review, which found three in five Jewish pupils have experienced anti-Semitism, was unveiled by Education Secretary Lucy Powell in Parliament.

She said children and teachers should be able to go to school or college 'free from fear', and added tackling anti-Semitism is a 'generational challenge'.

She warned that anti-Semitism is 'normalised and amplified' on social media and 'old tropes' have found a 'new life' online.

She added: 'Implementation is now my priority. I will make sure schools and colleges are better equipped to spot, challenge and prevent anti-Semitism wherever it happens.'