THE recent TUC Congress in Brighton debated the threat from fascist, far-right and populist organisations and trends. This has been reflected in violent and intimidatory protests outside hotels housing asylum-seekers and in efforts to promote flags through the so-called “Raise the Colours” campaign.

Recently we saw the largest far-right mobilisation in British history. Estimates of attendance vary between 110,000 and 150,000 — far outweighing the relatively small anti-racist counter-protest.

There is debate over the degree to which attendees were themselves “far-right,” but the fact remains: they joined a demonstration called by the racist far right.

The factors behind these developments are complex. The anti-migrant and anti-refugee narrative has been fed by mainstream politicians — including from the current Labour government.

There is widespread disappointment at Labour’s failure to deliver the scale and speed of change it promised. This frustration is rooted in decades of neglect of communities hollowed out by deindustrialisation.

The so-called “left behind” communities are often talked about, but little is actually done to meet their hopes and their needs. In this bleak landscape, the far right stokes division — blaming migrants and refugees for the failings of government and the economy.

It’s a situation in which the left should be making gains but in the opinion polls and in local elections last May, Reform UK reaped the benefits of this level of disillusionment.

Ignoring this wake-up call is currently likely to deliver further major blows to Labour at elections next May. The prospect of Reform in government in some form is now not an unreasonable one.

The reality for millions is that despite its claims, the Labour government has failed to halt austerity, failed to invest in public services and failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Deeply unpopular measures like the winter fuel changes and the two-child limit confirm people’s worst fears: that despite voting for change, things carry on under Labour much as before.

Billionaires get richer while the rest pay the price. And the next generation faces worse prospects than their parents.

So in this context, the trade union movement must offer — and demand — an alternative.

Despite setbacks and declining membership, trade unions remain the largest democratic voluntary organisations in civil society. The erosion of union strength and organisations has been one of the key drivers of inequality over the past four decades. With more than six million members, it is shocking how little governments heed our voice.

Our strength lies in our reach: we represent workers in their workplaces. We are a diverse movement — now majority female.

And because our success depends on unity, confronting racism and the far right is not optional. It is existential.

Anti-racist organisations and campaigns do essential work. But trade unions cannot outsource our response. The TUC, STUC and ICTU must step up — across these islands.

We’ve done it before.

In 1993, Derek Beacon won a council seat for the fascist BNP in Tower Hamlets. His campaign blamed minorities — in this case Bengalis — for poverty, housing shortages and strained services. In March 1994, the TUC organised a major anti-racism march through the East End. It helped defeat Beacon.

In even more challenging conditions in Northern Ireland, trade unions stepped up in the 1970s to challenge sectarianism, demand workplace unity, and call for “A Better Life For All.” From 1976, that campaign mobilised workers and wider society to cut across division.

These campaigns faced huge challenges. But they show the power — or at least the potential — of organised labour to mobilise working people and cut through hate and division.

Today, we need that level of vision.

This is not just a task for the TUC general secretary or general council. It is a challenge for every union.

That means investing resources in a common campaign. It means challenging the Labour government over its failures.

There is little point telling people the far right offers nothing — only to advise them to accept more of the same: an unresolved cost-of-living crisis, declining services, bleak job prospects, and endless failure to build decent housing.

A trade union campaign for unity and against division must also demand a better life for all.