Major trade unions and the TUC have rejected Nigel Farage’s proposal for unions to affiliate with Reform UK. They described the party as pretending to support workers while opposing new employment protections. Farage had urged unions on Tuesday to attend the party conference and consider affiliation, hinting that one might soon join. Eleven unions are currently linked to Labour, though a recent survey indicated rising backing for Reform among union members. Leaders from the TUC and five major unions responded by calling Reform the party of corporate interests and criticising its stance against fresh worker rights. In a Times interview, Farage claimed union leaders were using members’ funds on unpopular policies. He noted that Reform runs councils employing many unionised staff and promised not to dismiss organised labour. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said Farage’s record on rights and plans to repeal the Equality Act showed the party was no ally of workers. He added that Reform would remove day-one sick pay and safeguards against fire-and-rehire and zero-hours contracts. Unison general secretary Andrea Egan called the approach a ploy for money rather than genuine support. GMB general secretary Gary Smith labelled Reform rebadged Conservatives who voted against sick pay and other protections. Community union, representing steelworkers, dismissed the overture as farcical. The Fire Brigades Union called Farage a Thatcherite enemy of unions. The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association also rejected the offer as a desperate stunt. Unite has yet to respond officially, though a leadership challenger rejected any affiliation.
