A Court of Appeal ruling backing the decision of a private company to sack a British National Party activist will help schools keep racist staff out of the classroom, unions and employers believe.

The “watershed” ruling permits the sacking of staff for political beliefs if they pose a risk to health and safety. It suggests that schools and local authorities will in future be free to dismiss BNP activists if their presence directly contradicts the organisation’s ethos.

Concern about BNP activities surfaced this week after two Cumbria teenagers organised a special meeting in Maryport yesterday to combat the advance of the BNP in the area.

Duncan Money, 18, head boy at Netherhall school, and Jonathan Wood, 17, said they were horrified to hear the BNP had been holding meetings in Maryport.

Judges ruled in May that Serco, the services company which runs Walsall’s education service, and West Yorkshire Transport Service, had acted legally when it dismissed Arthur Redfearn from his driver’s job in Bradford after he was elected to the city council to represent the BNP. continued.........

http://www.tes.co.uk/2276303