* Jewish MP’s Visit to School Cancelled Over Pro-Palestine Opposition

A planned visit by​ a Jewish ‌Labor MP to a school in his Bristol constituency‍ was cancelled after a campaign ‌by ​a⁣ pro-Palestine ⁣group,it has emerged.

Damien Egan, the Labour MP⁢ for⁤ Bristol North East,⁤ had been booked to speak⁢ to students at Bristol Brunel academy, ⁢but the visit was called off by the school hours before it⁢ was due to happen.

The cancellation took place in September but ‍has been highlighted now after the communities secretary, Steve Reed, said a Jewish colleague was banned​ from visiting ⁤a school in his constituency amid concerns ⁣his presence would “inflame”​ teachers.

Speaking at ‌a Jewish Labour Movement conference in north London on Sunday,he said: “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.”

Reed added: “They will be called in, ​and⁢ they​ will be held ⁤to account for doing that, as you cannot have‌ people‍ with ‍those kinds of attitudes teaching our children.”

He did not name the colleague but sources close to Egan have confirmed to the Guardian that reed was talking ​about the Bristol MP’s planned visit in September. It is understood there is still hope⁢ the visit may ​eventually ⁣go ahead.

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.”