The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) welcomes the legal action initiated against the NASUWT over the deeply contentious appointment of Matt Wrack as General Secretary. Wrack, a hard-Left political activist with no teaching experience, has a troubling history of downplaying antisemitism, including describing the Labour Party’s antisemitism crisis under Jeremy Corbyn as a “so-called furore.”
The NJA expresses grave concern over the union’s choice to elevate a polarising figure with no professional background in education at a time when British classrooms are already vulnerable to politicisation and antisemitic incitement. The legal effort, spearheaded by Neil Butler – a veteran teacher and former national officer for Wales who was blocked from running – is a much-needed step toward restoring integrity to a once-moderate union.
“This is about more than just internal union politics,” said Steve Winston, Managing Director of the NJA. “Matt Wrack’s appointment sends a chilling message to Jewish teachers and families – that their safety, concerns, and dignity come second to radical posturing and ideological pandering. We support all legal avenues that restore fairness, transparency, and accountability to the NASUWT.”
Wrack’s public history of anti-Zionist agitation, his open support for the hard-Left’s most toxic factions, and his alignment with anti-Israel campaigners raise serious questions about his capacity to represent an increasingly diverse and concerned teaching workforce. This is not leadership – it’s political entryism disguised as union representation.
At a time when Jewish educators face an unprecedented rise in antisemitism, the NJA urges all education stakeholders to reject any attempt to hijack British institutions for political grandstanding. The classroom should be a space of learning, not a battleground for radical ideology.
The NJA calls on the NASUWT to reconsider its direction, take seriously the welfare of its Jewish members, and ensure that future leadership is rooted in experience, professionalism, and inclusivity – not activism masquerading as leadership.
