Stop the far right, together against hate – Usdaw issues a rallying cry

Addressing delegates at the annual conference in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said: “The far right have been gaining ground in our political institutions, in the media and on our streets. As we saw in last year's riots, the far right pose a very real threat to people's lives. This did not come out of nowhere. The most widespread and prolonged racist riots seen in Britain for a generation, followed the stoking of anti-Muslim and anti-refugee hatred from Tory and Reform politicians over a number of years.  

“The actions of the far right not only spread fear and anxiety in our communities and in our workplaces, they not only put people's lives at risk, they also threaten the values of unity and solidarity that form the bedrock of our movement. We have to face the reality, that for some working people the far right may seem like they have something to offer. They latched onto the fact that ordinary people's lives have got ever harder and on to the sense that after 14 years of Tory misrule, those in power didn't care and weren't listening. They capitalised on growing economic insecurity and rising inequality at work. Our members have been at the sharp end of this.

“All of these factors have created the conditions in which the populist right wing, has been able to grow in strength and in popularity. Reform’s claims to be anti-establishment, to offer a new way of doing politics, have gained them ground. Reform may have tried to position themselves as being on the side of working people, but they have already shown that their claim to be pro-worker is completely untrue. They have voted against Labour's Employment Rights Bill, plans to make work pay, to deliver fairness and greater equality for working people. Their entire approach is to pit workers against each other, to spread distrust and division and so to weaken our collective strength.

“Unions have a unique role to play in countering the far right. Day in, day out, Usdaw reps are winning for members, demonstrating the power of collectivism and of how unity, not division, wins for workers. Our commitment to equality, is our commitment to ensuring that all workers are treated with dignity and respect, be they Black, white, disabled, young, old, LGBT+, men or women. We have stood strong against racist and fascist threats before and we will do so again.”