Nigel Farage issues appeal to 'patriotic working-class' as Reform extends olive branch to trade unions

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched an appeal to the patriotic working-class while extending an olive branch to trade unions to ditch Labour. Mr Farage, who is campaigning ahead of the Red Wall Makerfield by-election on June 18, is encouraging union bosses to end 120 years of affiliation with Labour to forge a new relationship with Reform UK.The Clacton MP described his appeal to trade unions as a historic reset between Britain's trade unions and Britain's party of the workers. He told The Times: Reform now runs councils that employ tens of thousands of unionised workers: bin men and women, social workers, care staff, school support workers. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “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.”Setting out the new relationship he hopes to build with trade unions, Mr Farage added: “First, we extend an open offer to trade unions to apply — in good faith — for affiliation to Reform UK.“Second, we invite the unions to attend Reform UK’s national conference in September, and engage in discussing the policies of a future Reform Government.We want to ensure that what happens in Westminster finally reflects the interests of the working majority.“And third, we pledge to work with the unions to right historical injustices against British workers. For a start we aim to deliver proper redress to the victims of the British Steel pensions scandal. Some steelworkers lost hundreds of thousands [of pounds] thanks to unscrupulous financial advisers and official complacency.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSTrade unions played a major role in establishing the Labour Party in 1900, with Keir Hardie receiving the backing of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Gasworkers and General Labourers' Union, Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union, and Boot and Shoe Operatives.Eleven trade unions in Britain remain affiliated to Labour. However, the Rail, Maritime Transport Workers and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen have both disaffiliated from Labour in recent years. GMB, which remains affiliated to Labour, is also airing more criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's Government over Ed Miliband's pursuit of net zero. Mr Farage, who is hoping to secure the support of a union ahead of Reform UK's annual conference in September, issued his appeal just days after a bombshell poll revealedJL Partners found members of both Unite and the GMB now prefer Reform UK to Labour by clear margins. However, GMB general secretary Gary Smith rejected calls for his union to forge a closer relationship with Reform UK. He told The Times: “We set up the Labour Party as trade unions because we knew working-class people needed a political voice.“We’re very clear, Reform is no friend of trade unionists, it’s no friend of organised labour and people in the GMB.”Meanwhile, ex-RMT boss Mick Lynch revealed he does not trust Mr Farage.Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Lynch said: He will unleash a torrent of racism and division which will put our society and our country into the dark ages if he achieves power.Reform UK is not expected to affiliate with minor trade unions, including Solidarity and the Workers of England Union. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter