A Jewish MP visit to a local school in his 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 due to visit Bristol Brunel Academy in September, but the booking was called off shortly before his appearance.
The cancellation was labelled a “victory” by the Bristol branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which protested against the visit.
The decision has now been highlighted by communities secretary Steve Reed, who described the move as an “absolute outrage”.
Speaking to the Jewish News editor on Sunday, Mr Reed 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.”
Condemning the move and asked what actions would be taken, 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 the colleague, but sources have confirmed he was referring to Mr Egan, who has not commented.
In a Facebook post after the visit was cancelled, Bristol’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch said: “Victory for parents, teachers and the community. The planned school visit today (Friday September 5) by Damian Egan, MP for Bristol North East, 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 trade unionists, parents, and campaigners standing together.”
During the event on Sunday, Mr Reed told the Jewish Labour Movement: “We have to call this stuff out. We have to have consistency, and we have to be prepared to change the law when it happens. Otherwise, we are legitimising this at the fringes, and that’s where it grows from.”
It comes after Bridget Phillipson wrote to vice-chancellors of universities in October urging them to take “practical and proportionate steps” to protect Jewish students as part of Government efforts to stamp out antisemitism.
Some 600 training sessions will be offered to university staff over the coming weeks to help them “identify harassment and hate” and facilitate “open, respectful debate”, the Department for Education (DfE) said.
The Independent has contacted Bristol Brunel academy. In a statement to The Guardian, an academy spokesperson said: “On the evening before Mr Egan’s scheduled visit, we were made aware of plans for a public protest outside the school. We opted to postpone Mr Egan’s visit to ensure everyone would continue to feel safe when entering and exiting school and to prevent any disruption to our students’ learning.
“We have remained in contact with Mr Egan, and an alternative date for his visit was arranged some time ago. We have also been in contact with the police and followed their advice.”
