Nigel Farage’s Call for Union Affiliation Meets Unified Rejection

On 9 June 2026, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage invited trade unions to apply for affiliation and to attend the party’s national conference in September. He framed Reform as a “door open” for any group representing working people, noting the party’s control of local councils that employ union-linked staff.

The Guardian

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, speaking for union leaders, rejected Farage’s overture, warning that Reform’s attempts to repeal Equality Act and scrap day-one sick pay demonstrate “no friends of working people.” GMB’s Gary Smith echoed the criticism, labeling Reform “rebadged Tories.”

The Guardian

Reform UK opposes the Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill, which expands sick-pay, bans fire-and-rehire and limits zero-hours contracts. In 2025 Reform MPs voted against the bill, and spokesperson Andrea Jenkyns said, “I don’t like trade unions.” The party also seeks to repeal the Equality Act.

The Guardian

A JL Partners poll released after Farage’s announcement found Reform and Labour tied at 28 % of the union vote. Support was strongest among Unite and GMB members, indicating a modest shift among rank-and-file workers.

The Guardian

Farage’s outreach is a “con” to extract cash. Unison general secretary Andrea Egan called Reform’s motives “cold, hard cash” and accused the party of “misrepresentations.” “Corporate interests and crypto billionaires” would “rig the rules in favour of the rich.”

The Guardian

The episode could reshape union influence before the next general election. If Reform gains a measurable share of union members, Labour may be forced to sharpen its worker platform. The union rebuff underscores their role as a barrier to attempts to erode employment protections.

The Guardian

Union leadership uniformly rejects affiliation, yet the JL Partners poll shows 28 % of union members favor Reform, revealing a gap between leaders and rank-and-file sentiment.

The Guardian

• “Unlike the snobbish Tories of old, we will never treat organised labour with contempt. If you represent working people in this country, my door is open. The doors of every Reform council leader from Sunderland to Sandwell are open.” — Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader

The Guardian

• “Let’s be crystal clear: Reform are no friends of working people. If they were, they wouldn’t be planning to rip up workers’ rights like day one sick pay and protection from fire-and-rehire and zero-hours contracts,” — Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary

The Guardian

• “Mr Farage and his Reform MPs say one thing to workers and do another,” — Gary Smith, GMB general secretary

The Guardian

• “The union’s assistant general secretary, Alasdair McDiarmid, said: “The Reform party has consistently voted against the interests of working class people while under his leadership.” — Alasdair McDiarmid, Community assistant general secretary

The Guardian

Reform UK will host its national conference in September, where Farage expects further dialogue with unions. Union leaders say they will monitor any affiliation requests and continue opposing Reform’s agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Guardian