Democracy talk Row over MP's postponed visit to school continues

THE row over the cancelled visit by a Bristol MP to a local school continued this week, with campaigners in the city supporting Palestine saying they ‘stand in solidarity’ with underfire teachers, parents and students who had begun to organise a protest at the visit.

- Tristan CORK

A robust statement of support from Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign for staff and unions at Bristol Brunel Academy comes as the school, teachers and unions face scrutiny over what happened before and after a planned visit to the school by Bristol North East MP Damien Egan in September.

Mr Egan was scheduled to make a routine visit to the school in east Bristol to talk to students about democracy, careers and politics back in September, but on the eve of the visit, a rep for teaching union the NEU alerted others and plans for a protest both by teachers, some students and by Palestine campaigners began to be made.

The school’s leadership learned of the protest planned, and that it was scheduled to take place at the end of the school day, and told Mr Egan his visit had been cancelled, citing security concerns and disruption for the students generally.

School leaders later said in a statement that the visit would be rearranged.