A ‘combative’ ex-fireman baron with no classroom experience has been named the new head of a major teaching union.
Matt Wrack, who led the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) until January, has been confirmed as the new general secretary of the NASUWT.
The appointment will prompt fears Britain’s second-largest teaching union, with 300,000 members, may swing to the Left.
Mr Wrack is a hard-Left Jeremy Corbyn ally and has previously been criticised by ministerial sources as ‘overly combative’.
He has also been accused of being insensitive to the problem of anti-Semitism in the Labour party, calling it ‘so-called anti-Semitism’ in 2016.
He will be the first general secretary in the NASUWT’s history not to have classroom experience – even though it is Britain’s only union exclusively for teachers.
The union has previously been seen as moderate compared with the radical National Education Union (NEU).
However, last week at the NASUWT conference, activists voted to ballot members for autumn strikes unless the Government’s 2.8 per cent pay recommendation is ‘funded’.
It means ministers will have to give schools extra money to pay for the rise or risk nationwide walkouts.
Mr Wrack has been criticised in Whitehall for being at odds with the ‘mainstream views of the school workforce’.
It is understood he is also an ally of NEU hard-Left general secretary Daniel Kebede.
When he was named as the union’s preferred candidate last month, history teacher Luke Akhurst was hoping to run against him.
Mr Akhurst said the union needed a candidate who championed the concerns of everyday teachers.
However, today’s announcement suggests he failed to get the backing of the 25 local branches needed to force an election.
Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, said: ‘Appointing Matt Wrack, the first NASUWT general secretary with no teaching experience, is a cause for concern.
‘A career strike leader with hard-left views, Wrack will be more interested in flexing union muscle than improving children’s education.
‘With union bosses already shaping government policy behind closed doors, this appointment is a glimpse of what’s to come.’
Accepting his role, Mr Wrack said: ‘Teachers have suffered as a result of 14 years of austerity; so has education as a whole.
‘The Westminster government needs to urgently start investing in education and that includes addressing the fact that teachers’ salaries and living standards have fallen behind.
‘Urgent steps are needed to address the issues of teacher workload and of behaviour in schools.
‘Addressing these challenges is essential to starting to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in teaching.
‘Professional teachers are absolutely crucial to delivering top class education and all governments across the UK need to fully engage with professional teachers through their union, NASUWT.’
Zarah Sultana, a Corbyn-supporter who was elected Labour’s MP for Coventry South before becoming independent, said on X: ‘Congratulations Matt! Looking forward to working with you and NASUWT to stand up for teachers and champion the future of education.’
Wayne Broom, NASUWT president, said: ‘We are pleased to welcome Matt Wrack to the NASUWT where he will play a vital role in the next chapter of the union’s work on behalf of teachers across the country.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Wrack’s representatives for comment.