Teachers’ union votes to oppose 'far-right Reform UK' in classrooms and introduces 'anti-fascist' training sessions for its members

George Bunn
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:23:39 +0000

The largest teaching union in the UK has passed a motion to combat "far-right" Reform UK in classrooms.

The National Education Union committed the union to distribute "anti-racist teaching materials" at its recent annual conference in Brighton.

Delegates also passed a motion to lobby to overturn a ban on the Palestine Action group.

NEU chief Daniel Kebede argued the union bloc at the protest “needs to be huge, with workers front and centre saying they’re opposed to the far right”.

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Mr Kebede said those in power have been using racism to "feather their own nests", as he criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s comments around immigration, making reference to "an island of strangers", in a controversial speech about immigration.

He said: "What we have seen, in the age of Trump in particular, is those in power using racism to feather their own nests, whether it’s Donald Trump, whether it’s Nigel Farage.

“What’s even worse is we’ve seen the Prime Minister, instead of taking it on, tail-end it with the ‘island of strangers’ nonsense that he pedalled last year.”

He added: The toxic climate that is taking place in society festers into schools. We’re seeing an increase in racist incidents, whether that’s directed towards teachers and support staff, or pupil-on-pupil, so it’s incredibly difficult at the moment."

Michael Holland, who works at a school in south London, told Socialist Worker: "We have the power to stop the far right, but it is about organisation. We have our unions and we need to get them organised so we can prove we are the majority."

Reacting to the news, Reform's education spokesman Suella Braverman said: "The National Education Union has shown its true colours: its agenda is political, biased and partisan and that’s what it wants its members- many of them teaching in our schools- to teach our children.

"Britain’s schools should be about education, not ideology. It’s painful to see what is happening.

"Reform UK stands with hardworking teachers and parents who love Britain and want our schools to be free from political dogma. We speak for the silent majority, not the militant NEU chiefs."

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Speaking at the conference was Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who said education is key to opposing the far-right.

Mr Polanski said: "So much of the dissatisfaction, the tension, the conflict we’re seeing in this country is a result of a political and economic system that has stretched communities to breaking point and told people time and time again not to bother imagining any different. That there is no alternative, that things can’t get better."

He continued: "I know every day you are seeing children come in tired, hungry, unable to concentrate and unable to learn because they haven’t eaten or been able to sleep. Kids missing school because they can’t afford the bus fare. It’s disgusting. It should disgust us all."

The Green Party leader and London Assembly member received a standing ovation from delegates at the end of his speech.

Also speaking on Monday, NEU president Ed Harlow criticised misogynistic content peddled to young boys by some influencers and far-right narratives that encourage negative views of migrants.

Mr Harlow told delegates: "Boys are exposed to the influencers of the manosphere peddling a sick, toxic interpretation of masculinity rooted in extreme misogyny, incel culture and monetary greed."

He added: "We must reach into those communities where the far-right organise and say loud and clear that migrants are not to blame, Muslims are not to blame, trans people are not to blame.

"People are right to be angry but that we should never punch down."

Asked by reporters about his views on a social media ban for under-16s, a policy which has been supported by the NEU, Mr Polanski did not call for a blanket ban.

He said it is important young people are not accessing content that is age-inappropriate or damaging to their wellbeing and that he would support more regulation of social media platforms.

The Government is currently consulting on measures to protect young people online, which could include an Australia-style total ban on social media for under-16s or measures such as time limits and curfews.