Major UK trade unions have rebuffed an invitation from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to sever ties with Labour and consider affiliating with his party.
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In an interview with The Times, Farage said Reform UK was open to working with organised labour, telling unions that his “door is open” if they represent working people. He also invited union leaders to attend Reform UK’s annual conference in September.
The offer followed a poll published by the newspaper which suggested Farage was the most popular party leader among trade union members.
Union leaders reject proposal
The response from several of Britain’s largest unions was swift and critical.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said Reform UK had provided “absolutely no evidence” that it supported workers’ interests. She argued that Labour, rather than Reform, should strengthen its commitment to working people.
Andrea Egan, who leads Unison, accused Reform of undermining workers’ rights through its pledge to repeal Labour’s Employment Rights Act. She dismissed suggestions that Farage and his allies were genuinely interested in supporting unions.
The GMB union also rejected the overture, saying Reform UK’s rhetoric toward workers did not match its political record. The union accused the party of opposing basic workplace protections while presenting itself as a champion of workers.
Employment rights at centre of dispute
Criticism of Reform UK has focused largely on its commitment to repeal the Employment Rights Act, legislation introduced by Labour and enacted last year.
The law grants workers access to statutory sick pay from their first day of employment and allows employees to bring unfair dismissal claims after six months in a job.
Farage has argued that despite policy differences, unions and Reform UK could still find areas of agreement. In a social media video, he acknowledged there would be disagreements between union leaders and his party but urged them to attend the September conference to discuss potential cooperation.
He pointed to concerns surrounding the British Steel pension scheme as an example of an issue where Reform UK and unions might work together. Farage said his party wanted to help address what he described as historical injustices linked to the scheme.
Labour retains strong union links
Labour maintains close institutional and financial ties with the trade union movement. The party is affiliated with 11 unions representing around four million workers.
Union members play a role in Labour leadership elections, while union representatives hold seats on the party’s governing National Executive Committee.
Trade unions also remain an important source of funding for Labour through political funds and direct donations. According to figures published last week, Labour received £1.4 million in donations from seven unions during the first three months of the year.
Among the largest contributors were Unison, which donated £366,936, and Unite, which provided £392,544 despite ongoing criticism from its leadership of the Labour government.
Meanwhile, Wes Streeting, who has indicated he would enter a future Labour leadership contest, criticised Farage’s outreach effort. He argued that Farage’s voting record on workers’ rights was inconsistent with his attempt to court trade unions.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 10 June 2026
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