TRADE unionists are planning to take the fight to Reform UK at a major gathering later this year.
A total of six motions have been lodged for debate on tackling Nigel Farage’s party at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Dundee in April.
According to a leaked agenda, a number of groups are calling for the trade union movement to decide how to combat the rise of Reform, which were ranked the UK’s most popular party by a YouGov poll earlier this year.
A motion put forward by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) noted its "alarm" at increased levels of support for the party, saying it believes “the far-right is emboldened by Reform UK attempting to bring far right-wing ideals into the political mainstream”.
Another put forward by the Edinburgh Trades Union Council says Reform sought to "point the finger away from the rich, employers and politicians [...] and to blame refugees, migrants and Muslims [for declining living standards]”.
The STUC's black workers' conference said that “electoral support for Reform has combined with an explosion of fascist activity", adding: “The summer’s Islamophobic riots were preceded and followed by rallies of tens of thousands organised by the fascist Tommy Robinson.”
The UCU motion called on the STUC to “support trade unionists to organise against and challenge racism every day in their workplaces and to present an alternative to populist far-right ideologies”.
The union also said the trade union association should support events organised by the campaign group Stand Up To Racism.
A motion put forward by the Clydebank Trades Union Council called for the STUC to produce a variety of campaign materials, including podcasts and vlogs, to “expose that Reform UK are not pro working-class”.
Reform UK were approached for comment.
