Britain's largest teaching union has voiced strong opposition to Labour's proposed adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism in schools. The National Education Union (NEU) stated that the approach, part of a Labour-commissioned report with 27 recommendations, risks a "chilling" effect on open discussion and could lead to teachers and pupils being afraid to express their views.
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the NEU, argued that while tackling the rise in anti-Semitism is crucial, the IHRA's definition, which includes criticism of Israel under certain circumstances, could blur the lines between anti-Semitism and legitimate discourse about the Israeli government and events in Gaza. He expressed concern that this could prevent young people from critically exploring difficult issues in the classroom, potentially leading them to seek information from unsafe online sources.
The NEU also believes the review's recommendations unfairly question the professionalism of teachers. The independent report, authored by Sir David Bell, recommended embedding anti-Semitism into safeguarding policies, providing teacher training, and holding schools accountable through Ofsted.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott criticized the NEU's stance as "pathetic," asserting that it shows a "staggering lack of understanding" of the fears Jewish people face. She suggested the review did not go far enough in holding teaching unions accountable, noting that while the report found unions are not inherently anti-Semitic, some Jewish members feel their concerns are not taken seriously.
Trott cited an incident where members of the NEU allegedly pressured a school to cancel a visit by a Jewish MP. In response, Kebede referenced a separate review of the NEU by Karon Monaghan KC, which found no evidence of systemic anti-Semitism within the union, emphasizing the NEU's zero-tolerance policy toward racism.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell announced that the government would accept all 27 recommendations from the Bell Review. The review found that three in five Jewish pupils have experienced anti-Semitism and stressed that children and teachers should be able to learn and work without fear. Powell highlighted the normalization and amplification of anti-Semitism on social media, calling its tackling a "generational challenge."