TEACHERS could go on strike for better pay and funding as soon as September, National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede revealed yesterday.

The union’s national executive discussed the next steps after walkouts received 90 per cent backing on a turnout of 50.3 per cent in an indicative ballot at the NEU annual conference in Bournemouth.

The turnout narrowly met the threshold needed to authorise strikes in a formal ballot.

Delegates will vote today on an emergency motion proposing to “serve notice on Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer, that members are prepared to act industrially if they fail to deliver.”

Rejecting NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach’s description of national strikes before a general election as “gesture politics,” Mr Kebede hinted to a motion amendment calling for a national ballot for strike action.

He added: “If there’s a decision to go for a formal ballot, we should conduct it over a fairly significant period of time, looking to take action in September.”