The new President of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued a stark warning that the 'poison' of far-right extremism is dangerously spreading within Britain's key workforces, including schools, the NHS, and prisons.
A Vow to Wage War on Frightening Hate
In an exclusive interview, Steve Gillan vowed to lead a fightback against this alarming trend in 2026. Representing over 5.5 million workers, the TUC boss stated the union movement must challenge the ideology directly in workplaces. He stressed, however, that the government must also act to address the underlying economic and social drivers.
"The rise of the far right in the workforce is extremely dangerous. We are at a crossroads now," Gillan told The Mirror. "We actually fall into this spiral where we can’t get out of it or we fight back."
Surveys Show Workers 'Lurching' Towards Reform UK
Gillan expressed particular concern over the growing influence of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party among union members. He cited internal snap surveys, including one in the Midlands which found 43% of members in one union were more likely to vote for Reform.
"It is scary. Some trade unions have done surveys of their members and found a large proportion are lurching to Reform," he said. He linked this shift to the potent mix of social media influencers, international interference, and a narrative of blame targeting migrants and minorities.
The TUC President pointed to the large London demonstration organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) in September as evidence of how fringe figures can mobilise. "Ordinary men and women were turning out for it and if he can do that, that's dangerous because effectively he is a convicted criminal. It's frightening," Gillan stated.
Root Causes: Housing, Jobs, and Lost Hope
Gillan, a former prison officer and father from Essex, argued that the appeal of far-right rhetoric is often rooted in despair rather than inherent racism. He identified decades of industrial decline, insecure zero-hour contracts, and a lack of affordable housing as key factors eroding hope in communities.
"It's not because these individuals are necessarily racist. I actually think some people have given up hope," he explained. "They haven't got decent affordable housing... It's insecure jobs."
He warned that the current political approach risks fuelling the problem. "The Labour government are trying at the moment to outdo Reform by being seen as tough on the small boats, being seen as tough on visas. That won't work... because they will just keep moving the goalposts."
Echoes of History and a Call to Action
Drawing a sobering parallel with the rise of Nazism in Germany, Gillan emphasised the historic pattern of scapegoating during times of hardship. "When things aren't going well, all you need is someone like an influencer saying ‘that's because that guy over there is taking your job, he's taking your housing...'" he said.
To combat this, Gillan said the TUC will support initiatives like Show Racism the Red Card in schools and work with groups such as Hope not Hate. He welcomed the government's Employment Rights Act as a start but urged more action on poverty, public services, and housing.
"We've got to push the government to reduce poverty, to improve public services, increase housing, and increase security, and counteract those narratives of blame exploited by the far right," he concluded, determined to make the UK a better place for his grandchildren.
