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British unions reject Nigel Farage's invitation to join his party
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

British unions reject Nigel Farage's invitation to join his party

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigel Farage invited British trade union leaders to join his Reform UK party.
  • A poll showed Reform UK gaining support among public sector union members, tying with the Labour Party.
  • Major unions, including Unite and the Fire Brigades Union, rejected Farage's invitation, criticizing his party's stance on workers' rights.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing populist party Reform UK, has extended an invitation to prominent British trade union leaders to join his party. This outreach follows a recent poll indicating a significant surge in support for Reform UK among public sector union members, who are now reportedly tied with the governing Labour Party in voter intention.

Reform has shown absolutely no proof of being a friend of the workers.

— Sharon GrahamThe general secretary of Unite rejected Nigel Farage's invitation to union leaders.

The poll, published in The Times, revealed a notable shift in sentiment, with Labour's support among union members dropping twenty points since the 2024 general election, while Reform UK's support has climbed twelve points. The survey also suggested that members of major unions like Unite and GMB are increasingly leaning towards Farage's party over Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour. Farage encouraged union leaders to attend his party's annual congress in September.

less conversation and more action

— Sharon GrahamThe general secretary of Unite called on the Labour government to act more decisively for the working class.

However, the invitation has been met with strong rejection from the leadership of several key unions. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, stated that Reform UK has "absolutely no proof of being a friend of the workers" and urged the Labour government to take more decisive action for the working class. Steve Wright of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) characterized Farage as a "Thatcherite" and an "enemy of trade unions," citing his opposition to expanded labor rights and the right to strike.

Thatcherite and an enemy of the trade unions

— Steve WrightThe head of the Fire Brigades Union described Nigel Farage.

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA), expressed concerns that workers' interests are "not safe in the hands of Reform UK," alleging the party prioritizes its wealthy leaders over others. Paul Nowak, head of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), also dismissed Reform UK's claims of being the "true party of workers," pointing to their opposition to new labor protections and plans for public sector job cuts. Reform UK, founded in 2018 as the successor to the Brexit Party, has seen a notable rise in national polls and performed strongly in recent local and regional elections.

the interests of the workers are not safe in the hands of Reform UK

— Maryam EslamdoustThe general secretary of the TSSA stated her concerns about Reform UK's policies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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