Largest teaching union describes Reform UK as 'far-right and racist'

Nigel Farage labelled 'poundshop Donald Trump' by NEU leader

- Richard Adams Peter Walker

Britain's largest teaching union has called Reform UK "far-right and racist", and its leader has dismissed Nigel Farage as "a poundshop Donald Trump", as it pledged funds to oppose the party's candidates in elections.

Delegates to the National Education Union's annual conference backed a motion stating that "far-right and racist organisations, including Reform, seek to build on the despair, poverty and alienation in our society by scapegoating refugees, asylum seekers, Muslims, Jews and others who do not fit their beliefs".

The motion also committed the NEU to use its political fund for campaigns against Reform UK election candidates and to support the union's branches in local activity. Speakers in favour of the motion argued that some of the party's candidates and activists "have been former members of fascist organisations or espoused their views" as justification.

Kathryn Norouzi, an NEU delegate from Nottingham, said: "That's why we must call this party out for what it is, a racist party, and we must campaign against them. [Their policies] are designed to incite fear and division.

"As a union we must have the courage and clarity to oppose them. And we must be willing to use our political fund, the very fund created specifically to persuade people not to vote for political parties and their candidates who promote racist, fascist or similar views, to do just that."

But Simon Clarkson, from Leicester, told the conference that Farage would be "delighted" by the motion as it would "give him more weapons to use against us".