School workers who barred a Jewish MP from visiting students also got their bosses to cancel a speaker from an Israeli tech firm.
Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, was due to speak at Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency back in September.
But the visit was cancelled after a campaign by far-left protesters from Bristol’s National Education Union (NEU) branch and its local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group.
It has now emerged that the multi-academy trust which oversees the school no-platformed a speaker from Check Point – an Israeli-owned security company – for an event in July, The Times reports.
Michaela Wilde, NEU branch secretary for the schools, led the movement to stop Mr Egan from addressing students and bragged about no-platforming Check Point.
Ms Wilde, who is a pastoral support worker at City Academy, said NEU representatives in the Cabot Learning Federation were ‘very proud’ of no-platforming Mr Egan.
She added that it came after the ‘cancelling’ of an Israeli arms funded speaker to the [multi-academy trust] conference, cancelled due to our collective action’, she wrote on Facebook.
Michaela Wilde (pictured), NEU branch secretary for the schools, led the movement to stop Mr Egan from addressing students and bragged about no-platforming Check Point
Jewish MP Damien Egan was ‘banned’ from visiting a school in his constituency amid fears his presence would ‘inflame teachers’
‘Don’t mess with NEU in CLF, we are not here to play,’ she added.
Separately, Ms Wilde told the Bristol Cable that the NEU had successfully pressured the schools trust to remove Charlotte Wilson, who works for Check Point.
‘If we feel strongly about these things, we will take action,’ Ms Wilde said.
Daily Mail has approached Check Point and Ms Wilde for comment.
Mr Egan was barred because of ‘safeguarding concerns’ after the activists, who claimed to be representing the views of teachers, parents, and residents, highlighted his links to the Labour Friends of Israel group.
NEU activists described it as a win for ‘safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together’.
One NEU representative said teachers were planning to wear keffiyehs into the school on the day of his visit and were planning ‘work that members could do with students in preparation’ before it was cancelled.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed revealed on Sunday a Jewish MP had been ‘refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency in case his presence inflames the teachers’.
Check Point’s Charlotte Wilson was reportedly no-platformed by the NEU
‘I have a colleague who is Jewish, who has been banned from visiting a school and refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency, in case his presence inflames the teachers,’ he told the Jewish News.
‘That is an absolute outrage.’
Asked his response to the ban, he said: ‘They will be called in, and they will be held to account for doing that, because you cannot have people with those kinds of attitudes teaching our children. You just can’t have it.’
Mr Reed did not name his colleague but a string of social media posts from Bristol’s NEU and Palestine campaigners bragged about the cancellation of Mr Egan’s visit.
In one post from September, Bristol NEU wrote: ‘Victory for Education Workers, Parents and the Community.
‘MP Damien Egan’s planned school visit at Bristol Brunel Academy this Friday has been cancelled after concerns were raised by the NEU trade union staff group, parents and local constituents.
‘This is a clear message: politicians who openly support Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza are not welcome in our schools.
‘Egan is Vice Chair of Labour Friends of Israel and has visited Israel since the current onslaught on Gaza began, demonstrating his support.
The Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign boasted about the cancellation of the Labour MPs visit to the school
The visit to Bristol Brunel Academy (pictured) in September was cancelled after a campaign by far-left protesters from Bristol’s National Education Union (NEU) branch and its local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group
Mr Egan, a vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel, has faced repeated threats by anti-Israel activists since becoming an MP in 2024.
He has been offered enhanced security because he is married to Israeli Yossi Felberbaum who served in the military.
Mr Egan was born in Cork before moving with his family as a child to live in the Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire.
A spokesperson for Bristol Brunel Academy said: ‘Damien Egan MP – as a high-achieving alumnus of the CLF, and in common with other local MPs from across the political spectrum – was invited in September to visit Bristol Brunel Academy, a secondary school situated in his constituency of Bristol North East.
‘Mr Egan was due to discuss democracy and the role of an MP, while helping to raise aspirations among students who may have an interest in pursuing similar career paths.
‘On the evening before Mr Egan’s scheduled visit, we were made aware of plans for a public protest outside the school. As this protest was scheduled to coincide with the end in the school day, we opted to postpone Mr Egan’s visit to ensure everyone would continue to feel safe when entering and exiting school and to prevent any disruption to our students’ learning.
‘We have remained in contact with Mr Egan, and an alternative date for his visit was arranged some time ago. We have also been in contact with the police and followed their advice.’