The NEU is on the second day of its annual conference in Brighton. Yesterday delegates voted to abolish Ofsted…
This morning members have voted through a motion on “combatting the rise of the far right.” Here we go…
Motion 20 says the union members oppose “all forms of racism, fascism and far-right extremism” including “the divisive politics promoted by Reform UK.” The motion additionally says anti-racist and ‘anti-fascist’ teaching materials will be created for distribution to teacher members as well as “literature making the case against the far right.” We don’t need no thought control…
Fair to say Suella Braverman’s defection to Reform is no surprise at all to anyone in Westminster. It’s been coming for so long it’s hardly even a story now…
What will make waves however is the Tories’ punchy response to the defection, which swipes at Braverman’s “mental health” – one of those decisions that could come back to bite. Regardless of the non-story response expected from Westminster insiders, the fact is that among Tory members Braverman remained the most popular – recently polled as backbencher of the year by Tory bible ConHome. Kicking her on the way out may make Tory high command feel better, but it’s not likely to go down well with members…
UPDATE: Former Tory MP and Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans says Tories should “withdraw that statement immediately, I think it’s appalling… it’s better to say nothing than to say something like that.”
Lucy Powell on LBC, asked by Tom Swarbrick for her reaction to Labour MP Samantha Niblett’s call for a ‘summer of sex’ debate in Parliament: “I personally don’t own any sex toys, but each to their own… I’m not really sure that’s the right place for it, no.”
