REFORM UK is positioning itself as a powerful force in British politics, aiming to challenge the Conservatives as the party of capitalism.

In a recent announcement, it claimed to have surpassed the Conservative Party in membership, boasting the establishment of 300 new branches and a transition to being “owned by its members.” 

Although lacking the Establishment ties of the Conservatives, Reform UK is well-placed to play a significant role in future elections, either on its own or as part of an alliance.

Reform UK: A threat to our communities

Reform UK poses a real threat to public services, jobs and climate action. The party is gearing up for an attack on the NHS, education, and public services, while planning to increase military spending and invest in private prisons.

In the last general election, Reform UK came second in 98 constituencies, 89 of which were to Labour, with 60 in the north of England and 13 in Wales. Clearly, the party has gained traction in some working-class communities and its influence is likely to grow.

Reform UK has its sights set on the 2025 county council elections, the 2026 Scottish and Welsh national elections, and the London Assembly elections. Success in these would enable the party to implement its agenda of budget-slashing, privatisation and deregulation, masked by patriotic rhetoric.

Behind its flag-waving lies a commitment to dismantling the public sector, cutting essential services and advancing the interests of the wealthy. It is also pressing for royal commissions into social care and the state pension, which threatens us all.

Unions: Leading the fight for working communities

Unions are best-placed to oppose Reform UK. With a strong base of trust among workers that reaches into tens of thousands of workplaces, they understand the issues affecting industries and services.

Unions are uniquely positioned to unmask Reform UK’s plans and mobilise grassroots campaigns across the country, particularly in the public sector.

By exposing the dangers of privatisation and deregulation, unions can play a vital role in rebuilding labour movements that champion public ownership and democratic accountability.

The fight against Reform UK’s policies isn’t just about critique but offering alternatives that advocate radical change. Unions can lead the charge by making the case for fully funded public services, progressive taxation and investment in green energy.

Such proposals offer a clear vision for an economy that benefits communities, not the minority of mega wealthy. Union representatives can take the conversation directly to local communities in town centres, workplace meetings and social media, countering the divisive rhetoric that Reform UK thrives on.

Challenging the reform UK economic model

Reform UK claims that cutting corporate taxes and deregulating the economy will lead to growth, but history has shown that these policies only widen inequality and leave public services starved of funding.

In small and mid-sized towns where the party has built support, further cuts to services like transport, libraries and after-school services would destroy these communities’ very fabric. Unions must step up to demonstrate the real-life impact of Reform UK’s policies— how they will lead to lower wages, fewer services and deeper poverty and inequality.

The party prides itself on “plain speaking,” so we must meet them head-on with facts. We can show, in clear language, how budget cuts, privatisation and deregulation would hurt all citizens. Union representatives and activists can help spread the message that the real beneficiaries of Reform UK’s policies are the wealthy, not ordinary people.

Offering a vision for change

It’s not enough to criticise. We need to promote positive alternatives that will build a better society. This includes pushing for fully funded local services, advocating for the abolition of council tax in favour of a local wealth tax, and in England, strengthening local government through regional assemblies that can intervene with planned investment in creating jobs and council housing.

Public ownership of transport and investment in infrastructure are key to revitalising communities, particularly in rural areas.

Government in Scotland and Wales need restored and increased powers to face down the developers and privatisers so they can plan long-term investment in infrastructure and jobs for local youth. 

Unions and community organisations should support foodbanks, housing co-operatives and other local initiatives that address immediate needs while promoting long-term solutions through public ownership.

Encouraging such selfless volunteering and encouraging community self-help, you can be sure that Reform UK activists will be nowhere to be seen, leaving the field clear to build community self-reliance and isolate that party.

Defending the NHS and exposing Reform UK’s hypocrisy

One of the most critical battles will be defending the NHS. Many of Reform UK’s supporters don’t realise that the party advocates for accelerated privatisation of healthcare, doing the bidding of big health insurance companies and other corporate interests, especially in dentistry and pharmaceuticals. Reform UK’s voucher scheme for education and healthcare would undermine the very fabric of the public services millions depend on.

Reform UK’s hypocrisy extends to its stance on immigration. While railing against refugees and asylum-seekers, the party actually supports the use of migrant labour in the NHS and agriculture in the hope that it keeps wages low and plugs vital gaps in labour supply.

This selective stance on immigration, driven by economic interests, exposes the emptiness of their “patriotic” rhetoric of “stopping the boats.” Refugees should receive humanitarian support not isolation and violent rhetoric. The giant multinational and multicultural NHS workforce, with high density unionisation throughout, is an excellent place to take the message of unity against division, sown by Reform UK. 

Building a Strong Campaign Against Reform UK

To push back against Reform UK’s rise, we must run strong campaigns in the forthcoming local elections that highlight the benefits of public services, union wage rates and conditions, and community-led policies.

Reform UK isn’t truly anti-Establishment — it’s just a repackaging of the same old pro-corporate, anti-worker agenda. By offering a bold, alternative vision of public-led investment in healthcare, education, housing, asserting rights at work, worker unity and green energy, we can take that party on, whilst it is still in its formative years. 

In the course of an all-Britain, union-led campaign, to checkmate this party of division and hate, we will recruit new members and new ideas to our labour movement ranks and sharpen the debate between public good and privatised greed.

You can read parts I and II of this series here and here.