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NUT rejects exploring affiliation to Labour

Amendment passed removing reference to reviewing relationship with political parties

The National Union of Teachers has rejected a call for the union to “review” affiliating to the Labour party.

A motion heard at the union’s conference yesterday called for a review to explore “whether a different relationship with the with political parties, particularly Labour, could promote the interests of NUT members”.

It noted "that affiliated unions have a formal role in policy formulation".

The NUT, along with all other teaching unions, has never been linked to the party. But there have been calls in a number of unaffiliated left-leaning unions for exploring affiliation since Jeremy Corbyn was elected party leader in 2015.

Soon after Mr Corbyn was elected, the Fire Brigades Union re-affiliated over a decade after it broke its historic link with the party.

But delegate Joe Flynn said the union’s current position was “like fighting with one arm tied behind our backs”.

Speaking on behalf of an amendment removing the reference to affiliation, executive member Jerry Glazier defended the union’s current status.

“Our political independence has been a strength as we’ve campaigned for education and against policies from governments of both left and right,” he said.

And NUT executive member Hazel Danson said: “The last Labour government wouldn't talk to NUT because we would not sign up to their social partnership.”

The executive amendment was carried on a narrow margin of 50.63 per cent to 49.37 per cent. The substantive motion, which after the amendment called for the union to “continue to engage with the Labour party on its policy review”, was carried.

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