Union gets tough over early return for English classes

BRITAIN’S biggest teaching union yesterday dug its heels in over the reopening of English schools, despite a meeting with top government advisers.

It came as it emerged senior members are Labour activists who have vowed to ‘stop’ Boris Johnson.

The National Education Union’s views were said to be ‘unchanged’ after a briefing with top scientists, including Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

Joint general secretary Kevin Courtney, who has urged his 450,000 members not to engage with any government plans to partially reopen schools on June 1, said he was ‘pleased’ with the talks but questions have to be answered.

Saying this must be done in ‘public written form’, he added: ‘This is important for transparency and for other scientists to comment on.’ Dr Patrick roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, the UK’s second-largest teaching union, said the meeting was ‘not conclusive’.

The NEU faced criticism over its political links after it emerged at least three senior elected members stood as Labour Party candidates in the 2019 general election, or attempted to do so, while two are Labour councillors.

The links raised questions about whether political allegiances may be affecting negotiations and whether the union is using the virus crisis to promote its own political agenda.

Former Work and Pensions secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘The NEU are not impartial at all. Health workers, care workers, drivers, everybody else is recognising they need to compromise to try and both help people and to get the economy moving again. And yet this one group appears to want to hold the economy and children’s education to ransom, which I think is disgraceful.

‘This appears to be a politically-motivated campaign in an attempt to try and make life as difficult as possible for the Government.

‘But they will also be making life as difficult as possible for parents and for children and the wider community.’

Jeremy Corbyn supporter Mr Courtney, 60, last year promoted a Parliament Square protest to ‘Stop Boris’. This week he called a return to the classroom ‘irresponsible’ and ‘reckless’.

An NEU spokesman said: ‘The NEU represents members from across the political spectrum. As an independent union not affiliated to any political party, the NEU engages with whatever government is in power and with all parties in opposition to seek the best possible outcomes for school staff and the children our members teach.’