THE Workers Against the Far Right conference takes place today. The conference is organised by Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and supported by the TUC and a range of affiliated trade unions.

It’s a critical opportunity to organise trade unionists against three key historic developments in Britain: the rise of fascist street mobilisations on an unprecedented scale, the threat of a Reform UK government; and the most right-wing Labour government in history that is sticking to Tory attacks on cost of living and immigration and asylum rights.

Trade unionists know all too well how these developments impact on the workplace. Tommy Robinson’s so-called Unite the Kingdom movement represents a huge threat to the trade union movement.

Attacking the organisations of the working class is the historic function of fascism. The far right violently attack trade unionists on strike and trade union offices, along with anti-racists, African, Asian, Caribbean communities and many sections of society.

This unprecedented rise of the far right on the streets and in politics is funded by billionaires like Elon Musk, who encouraged the violence at the Unite the Kingdom demo and effectively agitated for a fascist coup in Britain.

Musk is also throwing his weight behind a new fascist political party — Restore Britain. A Find Out Now poll immediately after its launch put the party on 10 per cent.

These are dark times. The far right today poses an existential threat: driving racism and assaults on living standards. Building a united response — bringing together trade unionists, women’s organisations, and all progressive movements is essential.

So today’s conference will be discussing how we build maximum unity and the biggest turnout on the Together Against the Far Right demonstration on Saturday March 28.

We will also discuss how we mobilise the vote against Reform UK.

Reform UK is seeking to make significant gains in the May 2026 elections with major local elections in English metropolitan boroughs, several mayoral elections, Welsh Senedd and the Scottish Parliament.

Local elections in England are going ahead as scheduled after the government abandoned plans to postpone the elections following a legal challenge from Nigel Farage it was likely to lose.

Reform UK has consistently led national opinion polls for a year. Recent polling for the 2026 elections suggest Reform UK could win several seats in the Senedd — some polls indicate it could be the largest party and form the government in Wales — gain the greatest number of local council seats in England and up to 20 seats in the Scottish Parliament.

The party recently announced several reactionary policies and its so-called “shadow cabinet,” with mostly ex-Conservatives in key positions.

Robert Jenrick is lined up to be the chancellor and announced reimposing the two-child benefit cap. Meanwhile Suella Braverman — who has the education and skills brief — announced that on her first day in government she would repeal the Equality Act.

Both Jenrick and Braverman whipped up the racist, far-right campaign and demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum-seekers last summer. Reform UK is a party that will align itself with fascism when it’s convenient to do so.

Reform UK MPs voted against banning hire and rehire, improving access to sick pay, banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, improved paternity leave and allowing bereavement leave.

Its general election manifesto pledged to cut corporation tax for the largest corporations in Britain at a time when many corporations are making billions in profits and included £50 billion of cuts to the NHS, education and social care.

We can defeat Reform UK. The majority of people in Britain — approximately 70 per cent — will not vote for Reform UK. Our task is to mobilise this majority in the most strategic way possible.

While polling indicates a less clear result, betting markets indicate the Greens are odds on favourites to win the Gorton & Denton by-election this Thursday.

SUTR is organising a campaign in Gorton & Denton, encouraging people to use their vote to stop Reform UK.

In the November 2025 Wales Senedd Caerphilly by-election, the SUTR campaign had the decisive impact in defeating Reform UK by mobilising the vote against it and increasing voter turnout by 5,000 from the previous election.

Today’s conference will also discuss campaigning against draconian measures and concessions to the far right by the Labour government.

Labour’s recent asylum policy paper, centred on granting refugees only temporary leave to remain subject to review every 30 months could potentially delay settled status for up to 20 years.

Policies announced during the shameful “Island of Strangers” speech are leading to the wrongful deportation of workers. These policies will effectively culminate in another Windrush scandal. We must organise against this and fight for Labour to address the cost-of-living crisis.

The conference will be addressed by Sharon Graham, Andrea Egan, Daniel Kebede, Fran Heathcote, Steve Wright among others in the trade union movement, and will take place at Birkbeck College.

Sabby Dhalu is Stand up to Racism co-convener.