Unions Reject Farage Invitation to Reform UK Conference Despite His Poll Lead Among Members

Trade unions rejected an invitation from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to attend the party's September conference and consider affiliating with Reform instead of Labour. BBC News reported that Farage made the offer in an interview with The Times, stating that if unions represent working people, his door is open.

A poll published in The Times indicated Farage was the most popular party leader among trade union members.

Farage also released a video on social media acknowledging there would be disagreements with union leaders but inviting them to discuss policies at the conference. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said Reform had shown absolutely no evidence that they are friends of workers. She added that the Labour Party needs to stop dithering and be the voice of workers.

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said Reform UK had shown what it thinks of working people by pledging to repeal the Employment Rights Act, which became law last year. The act gives workers the right to sick pay from their first day and the right to claim unfair dismissal after six months.

Andrea Egan said it is a con to think Nigel Farage and his rich cronies are interested in unions for anything but cold hard cash.

A GMB spokesperson said Farage and his Reform MPs say one thing to workers and do another, describing them as re-badged Tories after union members' basic rights. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last month and says he would join any future Labour leadership contest, said Farage has the audacity to vote consistently against the rights of workers and then claim he is open to trade unions.

Farage pointed to historical injustices surrounding the British Steel pension scheme and said his party would like to help unions sort it out.

Reform UK has pledged to scrap the Employment Rights Act. Labour is backed by 11 trade unions representing four million workers. 4m from seven different unions in donations in the first three months of this year.

Unison gave £366,936 and Unite donated £392,544 during that period, according to figures published last week.