LABOUR have abandoned working-class voters and left a “political vacuum” for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to exploit, the head of a union industry body has said.
Keir Starmer’s Government has been accused of failing to deliver the “change” his party promised voters and has been warned Labour needs to “disarm” the rise of Reform UK and the far-right by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).
At the STUC’s annual congress, held in Dundee later this month, members will consider motions to enable action against the far-right, with one reportedly pointing the finger at Labour for helping allow the surge of Reform across the UK.
STUC’s general secretary, Roz Foyer, told The Scotsman that the Labour government has “sat idle” while Nigel Farage’s party has gathered momentum by “preying on the economic insecurity” experienced by many working-class families across the country.
“The people of Scotland voted for change. What the Labour UK government has served, thus far, has not delivered,” Foyer (below) said.
“It’s incumbent upon them to bring hope and renewal back to communities and ensure those who are most disenfranchised from our politics have their voices heard.
“That means being a government that is unashamedly bold, radical and improves living standards through the spread of wealth and power away from those at the top to those who need it most.
“Increased taxation on the wealthy, combined with the nationalisation of industry to provide working people with well-funded, world-class public services, will disarm some of the lies and rhetoric of the far right.”
On Sunday, First Minister John Swinney warned Scots against being “tempted by the simple solutions” offered by far-right parties like Reform UK.
The SNP leader said he understands why many people in Scotland were “disaffected” after having “gone through a really hard time over a number of years”.
His comments come ahead of a summit on Wednesday, called by Swinney (below), aimed at tackling the rise of the far-right, which he said included Farage’s Reform UK.
Reform UK has been gathering momentum in recent polls and could potentially return several MSPs in next year’s Holyrood election.
Foyer added: “They’re [Reform] gaining traction in our communities by preying on the economic insecurity experienced by many working-class families. We have an economy that doesn’t work for them.
“Only by the UK Government and other political actors, who for too long have sat idle, providing hope and purpose can we start to turn the tide against the far right and build inclusive, welcoming communities for all.”
A motion to be tabled at this month’s STUC congress reportedly states delegates are “gravely concerned at the rise of the far right and of political parties which espouse many of their ideas”.
It adds that “a return to policies which improve living standards, redistribute income, wealth and power, and invests in the public good would do much to arrest the growth of far-right ideas”.
The motion also says that “trade unions should take a lead in workplace and community organising against the far right, in partnership with local campaign groups”. Another motion brands Reform a “populist right-wing project based on racist, anti-immigration and ‘anti-establishment’ rhetoric”.
The motion warns that trecent local government elections show that it [Reform] is gaining a foothold in Scotland”, adding “it is highly likely that trade union members are voting for Reform UK”.
It also stressed that “while Reform voters have adopted a regressive political position, at core many have legitimate grievances such as cuts to services, a lack of affordable housing, and wage stagnation”.
The motion starkly points to “the failure of the Labour party to enthuse a large part of the working-class electorate”, which it claims “has left a political vacuum, which is being partly filled by Reform UK”.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie told The Scotsman: “Communities across Scotland have been let down after years of SNP and Tory failure”.
She added: “The UK Labour government is working to undo the damage the Tories did to the fabric of our country – from ending austerity with a record budget settlement for Scotland to taking forward the greatest boost to workers’ rights in a generation through the Employment Rights Bill.”
