NASUWT - Derby Branch

Statement on Derby BNP activist employed as a teacher
in the Derby Pupil Referral Unit

We are shocked and appalled that Clive Jones, a known BNP election candidate, is working at the Derby City Pupil Referral Unit. The BNP is a racist and fascist party whose aim is an all white nation. The Standards Board of England and Wales has confirmed that it is legitimate to describe the BNP as a Nazi organisation. Wherever the BNP gains ground racist attacks increase.

The BNP's hatred is not only confined to minority ethnic people. BNP policies attack people with disabilities and lesbian and gay people as well as other "minority groups". We note that Derby City Council has a good record of positive policies on equalities, disability, race relations and cultural diversity and we believe that Mr Jones' continued employment is incompatible with such policies.

We believe that Derby benefits immensely from being a diverse and vibrant City and we call on our elected political representatives, civic and community leaders to ensure that Derby remains so and is not divided by hatred and intolerance, which the BNP represents. We call upon the Children’s and Young People’s Department to put its policies into practice.

Members of the BNP are not allowed to take jobs in the Police Force or the Prison Service so why should children in Derby not enjoy the same protection that adults do? We therefore call on Derby City Council to suspend Mr Jones pending an investigation into his BNP activities and the extent to which they breach the Council's duty under the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000) and the Council's own equal opportunities policies.