Teaching union accuses Reform UK of being ‘racist and far-right’
The largest education union in Britain has labelled Reform UK as a “racist and far-right” political party.
Delegates at the annual conference of the National Education Union (NEU) called for the union’s political fund to be used to help campaign against Reform UK election candidates whose policies and campaigns were “racist”.
A motion, which was passed by delegates at the conference on Tuesday, said it believes Reform UK is a “racist and far-right party because of its policies around immigration and its campaigns against migrants”.
It added that organisations, like Reform UK, “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”.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, described the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as a “pound shop Trump” who he claimed had made a career out of “dog whistle politics”.
‘Populist’
Speaking to the media at the union’s annual conference in Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Mr Kebede said: “I think there’s an awful lot of racists who are getting involved in Reform.
“I think Nigel Farage is a right-wing populist.”
Speaking about the Reform UK leader, Mr Kebede added: “I’m surprised that our union seems to be living rent free in his head, to be honest.
“But this is just lifted directly from the Donald Trump playbook.
“Both Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been directly attacking the AFT and the NEA, the American teachers’ unions, and this is what Nigel Farage is.
“He’s a pound shop Donald Trump.”
‘Indoctrination’
When asked about the union’s stance on Reform UK at a press conference in County Durham on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Farage accused the NEU leader of being a “self-declared Marxist” who he claimed was determined that “children should be poisoned at school” about everything to do with the country.
The Reform UK leader said: “He is encouraging literally indoctrination of teenagers in our schools by telling kids that Reform is a racist party.”
Mr Farage added: “If we win the 2029 General Election we will go to war with the National Education Union and all the left-wing teaching unions”.
A motion, which was passed at the NEU’s conference, suggested that some young people are being drawn towards racist beliefs and far-right activity, and it called on the union “to educate and challenge them”.
It added that the growth of Reform UK’s membership had led to “an influx of racist and fascist views”.
‘True colours’
Reform MP Lee Anderson said: “The National Education Union has shown its true colours.
“Rather than focusing on educating Britain’s youth, it seems more interested in political indoctrination, silencing free speech, and spreading divisive rhetoric.
“The union has abandoned its legal duty of political neutrality, choosing instead to openly endorse partisan positions – completely undermining its credibility.
“This isn’t just morally wrong; it’s unlawful.
“I have deep sympathy for the children of this country, who deserve an education that encourages critical thinking – not one shaped by teachers who appear to hold our nation and its history in contempt.
“We will take on the NEU – not out of desire, but out of necessity. Our children deserve better, and this is yet another sign that our education system is in desperate need of reform.”
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You want to see what some of the english council candidates for this mob are like. There is no question about it.
Meanwhile farage’s mate in the US is wanting to send its citizens to concentration camps and close any press org that says the truth about trump.
In my opinion it’s unhelpful to label Reform as racist. There’s definitely racist people who vote for them but it’s much more layered than that, it’s about hoovering up disillusioned voters with easy to understand stories about who is to blame for the mess we are in. They say it’s because of foreigners, but it’s really billionaires and the super rich buying up all the assets and hoarding all the money so there’s nothing to spend on the things working people need, hence why people like Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage get on so well. There’s money to… Read more »
I see your point but if a far-right nationalist party’s big selling point is that they dislike immigrants and their supporters (many of whom want Tommy Robinson to join the party) and many of their members are racist and their leader’s political hero is the racist Enoch Powell then it’s not a stretch to call the party racist.
They are not only FAR RIGHT FASCIST BETTER DESCRIPTION AND RACIST THEY ARE AN ENGLISH NATIONALIST PARTY
That’s the Conservative and Unionists although to be fair Reform are their de facto militant wing.
Seeing Wales has already experienced what Nigel Farage and Reform UK are all about when a minority of voters self-harmed by allowing 7 Ukip/Brexit AMs into the Senedd. Here’s a selection of Reform UK candidates that were chosen In 2024 for some by-elections and their views reported by the BBC. And yes , at the time Nigel Farage distanced himself from these racists, but these were vetted and chosen to stand. These are the very type attracted by Reform UK because of their policies. You know, bit like flies to a steaming pile of proverbial. Here’s a few examples of… Read more »
Hear, Hear or, Here,Here. (Hedging/edging my bets just in case I was told what to think by my English teacher).(With a nod to Dave above).
As with Brexit, it’s true that all racists will back Reform but that’s not to say all Reformers are racists. Some are anarchists with a desire to abolish government just because it’s government. While others are simply arsonists with a need to destroy anything and everything just for fun. They love the project fear promises and are still frustrated that Brexit hasn’t yet delivered WW3.
I would say that teaching correct adjectives such as “racist” shows education is going pretty well.
Reform would actually make quite a good vocabulary teaching aid in a lesson as any mention automatically triggers words like fraudster, thief, pervert, paedophile, schemer, offender, liar, cheat, scum, crook, desperate, dishonest, abuser, scammer, failure and simpleton to name a few.