A LEADING trade unionist has been forced to stand down from a landmark tribunal hearing into the case of a British National Party (BNP) activist accused of using school computers to access right-wing websites.

Ex-soldier Adam Walker, 39, could become the first person in the country to be banned from the classroom for religious intolerance after allegations he posted comments about asylum seekers, Islam, immigrants and homosexuality on an internet chat forum while working as a technology teacher at Houghton Kepier School, in Wearside.

Judy Moorhouse, a former president of the National Union of Teachers, had been due to sit on a three-member General Teaching Council (GTC) committee in Birmingham yesterday to consider a charge of misconduct against Mr Walker.

However, after Mr Walker’s representatives from the trade union Solidarity complained of potential bias if Ms Moorhouse were to sit on the tribunal, the committee ruled that it would “inappropriate”

for Ms Moorhouse, who is also the chairwoman of the GTC, to take part in the hearing.

Committee chairman Barry Picken said: “This case is not about membership of the BNP. It is about unacceptable professional conduct as a teacher, with the issue about whether contributions made by Adam Walker to a website demonstrated religious or racial intolerance.

“We have determined for it to not be appropriate for Judy Moorhouse to sit as member of this committee.

“A fair-minded observer would, in the committee’s view, conclude that there was a real possibility that the tribunal was biased.”

The allegation against Mr Walker, who stood as a BNP candidate in May’s local elections, states that, between February and March last year, he used a school laptop during lessons and contributed to online discussions in which he demonstrated views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance.

He was suspended from his post and has since left his job.

A large crowd of supporters gathered outside yesterday’s hearing, flanked by police officers.

BNP chairman Nick Griffin branded the hearing “farcical”

and “a politicallymotivated show trial”.

Speaking outside the hearing, Mr Walker told supporters: “Judy Moorhouse has messed with Solidarity, and has stepped down.

“There will be a new hearing with a different panel, and we have thrown a spanner in the works of the establishment.”

He added: “It’s absolutely disgusting that I am in there being hauled over coals by the GTC because of my political beliefs.”

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be determined.