The proposal, now being considered by the Government, to ban BNP members from the classroom been attacked by various liberal/libertarian groups.

 

Ed Balls announced at the Labour Party conference an investigation into "racism in schools" and whether members of the British National Party (BNP) should be banned from teaching. Although supported by Conference delegates (of a rival party) including Trade Unionists, he has been criticised by a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights select committee and by the Solidarity Trade Union.

 

Lib Dem MP Evan Harris and Committee member in a letter to the Times newspaper wrote:- "It is obviously illiberal to declare that legal membership of a legal political party will be a bar to earning a living as a teacher, especially as what should be actually banned is behaviour — not thoughts, or unexpressed views."[1].

 

Patrick Harrington General Secretary of Solidarity Trade Union said "Mr Harris hit the nail on the head when he writes of judging people by their behaviour. Even if the BNP policies were unacceptable within the teaching framework of our schools there is no reason to assume one of their members is any less professional then any of his colleagues or force their views upon pupils. In this country we traditionally act against peoples actions not their views (perceived or otherwise). There are many existing safeguards to ensure teaching standards. Any further restrictions would not be proportionate to the aims pursued.

 

 

[1] Letter to the Times, October 5, 2009.

 

END