Labour: “BNP members should not be allowed to teach in Scotland”

From ‘The Journal’ newspaper.

BNP claim it is a breach of their human rights to withhold employment based on political beliefs

The General Teaching Council’s (GTC) code of conduct is strong enough to prevent BNP members from becoming teachers in Scotland, according to Scottish Labour.

The comments come following a speech by schools secretary Ed Balls to the Labour conference in Brighton last week, in which he ordered a review in England and Wales to “keep racism and BNP activity out of all our schools”.

Rhona Brankin, Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson, said: “We all condemn the idea of having racists teaching in our classrooms. No one would want their children educated by a neo-Nazi. Here, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has much stronger powers to ensure that anyone in the classroom is a fit and proper person to be a teacher.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “The BNP are not a normal political party. They are a violent bunch of fascists who stand against everything the vast majority of Scots hold dear.”

The review ordered by Mr Balls will consider whether or not to ban BNP members from becoming teachers in England and Wales, but will not effect the Scottish education system as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Parliament.

Regarding a similar review in Scotland, a Scottish government spokesman said: “Teachers must adhere to the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct, which states that teachers must not be prejudiced by views about a pupil’s lifestyle, culture, disability, beliefs, colour, gender, language, sexuality or age. Membership of a specific political party in itself is not a breach of the Code.”

Speaking to The Journal, Gary Raikes, leader of the Scottish BNP, defended his party, saying that it is wrong to deny a teacher the right to employment based on political beliefs:

“The BNP are not neo-Nazis or violent fascists. Those that level these insults at us do so due to their ignorance. I would suggest that by trying to deny teachers employment because of their political beliefs is in itself a fascist act and a breach of our members’ human rights.”

GTC Scotland would not comment specifically on the situation, highlighting instead the stability of the system and the strict measures in place.

GTC Scotland Chief Executive Anthony Finn said: “We are content that our Code of Professionalism and Conduct offers a robust and fair measure by which to ensure that teachers registered in Scotland are fit to teach in our Schools.”