The  campaign to obtain a 'fair' trial for persecuted teacher Adam Walker finally bore fruit when the three person committee of the General Teaching Council (GTC) agreed to withdraw from the case.

Adam Walker is up before the GTC for allegedly using his school laptop of expressing  views "suggestive of racial and religious intolerance". He denies the charge.

Mr Walker's Solidarity Trade Union Representatives raised questions about one of the panel Ms Judy Moorhouse. She is an ex-NUT President and outspoken opponent of the British National Party. Mr Walker is a prominent member of the BNP.

Solidarity General Secretary Mr. Patrick Harrington argued that Adam Walker was entitled to receive an "independent and impartial"  tribunal, at a special GTC hearing in Birmingham. He argued that there was a real possibility of bias if Ms Moorhouse stayed on the panel.

A vociferous demonstration in support of Adam Walker  organised by the Civil Liberty group took place outside. A subdued and smaller counter-demonstration also took place some way from the GTC building for part of the day.

After deliberation the GTC agreed that it would be 'inappropriate' for Judy Moorhouse or the other two members of the panel to judge this case and they have withdrawn. Mr Harrington stated:-  "I respect the right of Ms Moorhouse to hold strong views (and agree with some of them myself) but it was clearly inappropriate for her to be a judge in this case. The GTC seriously considered the legal arguments and they, and indeed, Ms Moorhouse are to be commended for doing the right thing. I think that this goes some way to restoring public confidence in them as an independent professional body".

The hearing has now been adjourned until next year where a new panel will be appointed to consider the case.

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