All Stand Together

 

The review was commissioned by the Education Secretary Ed Balls and reported on the 12th March. It concluded that there were no pressing problems of racism being promoted in the classroom let alone from anyone with a political agenda. Review Chairman Maurice Smith an ex-Chief Inspector of Schools, said that any ban would be disproportionate.

 

Solidarity General Secretary Patrick Harrington (who gave evidence to the review) said “We had investigated and supplied to the review as part of our submission our own report which had found there was no serious problem of racism in the classroom. It soon became  evident that the review had been initiated by a Schools Secretary that was under pressure from those following a political agenda.That agenda sought to create the impression that there was a racist problem in the schools and that members of a rival party were responsible. The conclusions of this independent review have burst that balloon.”

  

He added “Solidarity is a libertarian Trade Union in that we do not concern ourselves with our members political views/memberships. Indeed we believe that all workers should have the right to freedom of association and expression. As our brothers and sisters in the ATL pointed out the only issue is how people behave in their jobs. The shrill statements of the Chris Keates of the Teaching Union NASUWT that BNP teachers should be banned are anti-democratic. We believe such extreme opinions are driven by political malice rather than any actual evidence.