NUT general secretary Christine Blower revealed to the Morning Star yesterday that although it may seem like a suicide mission being at the Conservative conference — sometimes the union actually gets more stick at Labour.

The union, a staunch critic of former education secretary Michael Gove’s widely criticised academies programme, holds a stall at the conference with sister union NASUWT every year.

They are the only unions with a stall at the Conservative conference.

Speaking at NUT’s coveted fish supper, which it holds at all three main party conferences every year for those lucky enough to grab one of their limited free tickets, Ms Blower said: “Surprisingly, it’s only a minority of Tories that give us problems.

“One year Mr Gove didn’t turn up to our fringe, which was irritating.

“However there are plenty of delegates at Labour who have something to say to us, not all are positive.”

The NUT published information stressing the soaring costs of education and called on all parties to “stand up for education” in its manifestos.

The manifesto calls for more teaching time over tests, qualified teachers for all children, an end to child poverty, end the school places crisis and greater investment in education, which should never be run for profit.