Britain’s largest teaching union has enlisted a leading King’s Counsel to delve into claims of ‘institutional antisemitism’ within its ranks.

The National Education Union (NEU) has tasked Karon Monaghan from Matrix Chambers with examining allegations of a ‘hostile atmosphere’ affecting its Jewish members.

This investigation is part of a broader effort by the NEU to scrutinize how it manages discussions on sensitive topics and addresses member grievances.

Daniel Kebede, the General Secretary, initiated the inquiry, acknowledging the complexity often involved in debates on controversial issues.

Despite being launched over a year ago, the investigation has remained confidential until now.

The Daily Mail has learned that at least one Jewish member has been interviewed by investigators after submitting a complaint regarding antisemitism.

The revelation comes amid a row this week over a school in Bristol cancelling a visit by a Jewish MP following pressure applied by the local NEU branch.

A number of other recent incidents within the union have been labelled ‘antisemitic’ by Jewish members. 

Britain’s biggest teaching union has brought in a top KC to investigate accusations of ‘institutional antisemitism’ (pictured: NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede)

The National Education Union (NEU) is using Karon Monaghan (pictured) of Matrix Chambers to look into allegations of a ‘hostile environment’ for Jewish members

Members have complained the NEU’s militant approach to Israel is one-sided and makes Jews feel ostracised (pictured: an NEU conference delegate wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh)

 Last year, the union passed a motion accusing Israel of ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ and said it would develop classroom materials about Gaza for members to use in schools.

It has also previously passed motions declaring support for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and Palestinian flags are a regular feature at NEU events.

In 2024, Jewish member Peter Block, 76, a retired teacher, was heckled and cut off when he tried to speak against the stance at the union’s annual conference.

He has since left the union in protest.

In 2021, before taking over the union’s helm, Mr Kebede called on crowds to ‘globalise the intifada’ at a PSC rally.

Members have complained the NEU’s militant approach to Israel is one-sided and makes Jews feel ostracised.

As part of Ms Monaghan’s investigation, she has interviewed a Jewish member who sent union leaders a letter of resignation in September, accusing them of ‘institutional antisemitism’.

The member, who asked not to be named, accused Mr Kebede of ‘inflammatory rhetoric’ and a ‘failure to protect Jewish members’.

The 50-year-old secondary school teacher has been a member of the union for 19 years and acted as a rep in Barnet, North London, for 10 years.

He said in his letter: ‘I will not remain part of an organisation whose leadership has created and sustained an environment that is hostile to Jewish members, in breach not only of moral responsibility but of the law.’

The letter accused the union of spending members’ fees on political campaigning, and importing ‘one-sided political declarations’ into schools, breaching impartiality rules.

And it said numerous complaints about the situation by Jewish members have been ‘dismissed’.

It also said the union was in breach of the Equality Act 2010, because the actions had amounted to ‘harassment’ of members with a ‘protected characteristic’.

‘You have fostered a culture where Jewish voices are delegitimised and silenced,’ the letter said.

‘That culture is nothing less than institutional antisemitism.’

It is understood Ms Monaghan will file a report of her findings to the union executive imminently.

The high-profile KC previously acted for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the Maya Forstater case on gender-critical beliefs.

She also investigated sexual harassment within the GMB union and in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.

Yesterday, Mr Block, who emailed the union several months ago announcing his own resignation, said: ‘I resigned from my membership because I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall. I still haven’t had an apology for what happened to me. It’s obvious to me they’re not interested at all in the rise of antisemitism in the union. This investigation won’t change anything.’ 

The investigation comes to light amid a row over Damien Egan, the Jewish Labour MP for Bristol North East, who had been due to speak to students at Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency.

The visit in September was called off due to ‘safeguarding’ concerns after activists planned to hold a protest outside the school over his links to the Labour Friends of Israel group.

Bristol NEU later claimed victory on social media over the cancellation, saying its members in the school had ‘raised concerns’.

A spokesman for the NEU said the Monaghan report ‘was not triggered by a member complaint’.

They added: ‘It is not accurate to say this is a report solely about antisemitism. Daniel Kebede, upon being elected as general secretary, made a proactive and positive decision, of his own volition, to review the processes and policies of how debate of contentious issues is handled within the union, as well as the processes for member complaints.’

They said the NEU wants ‘different views’ to be heard and to ‘respond to a political environment where debate on contentious issues can often be complex’.

Regarding the Bristol incident, the spokesman said NEU head office had ‘no knowledge’ of the cancellation at the time.

Matrix Chambers declined to comment.