Commenting on the Maurice Smith Review, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“By and large, Maurice Smith’s response is measured and proportionate. Of course he was not asked to address the wider issue of the real and major threat of the BNP and other fascist organisations to local communities such as Barking and Dagenham and Stoke.

“In communities such as these schools are very real havens of community cohesion and tolerance. In the run up to a general election we cannot ignore the fact that there has been a significant upsurge of activity from the BNP. Should they be successful in gaining any further electoral ground that would be damaging”.