The new President of the Trades Union Congress has issued a stark warning that the 'poison' of far-right extremism is dangerously spreading through Britain's key workplaces, including schools, hospitals, and prisons.
A Vow to Wage War on Frightening Hate
In an exclusive interview, Steve Gillan, who leads the federation representing 5.5 million workers, vowed to "wage war on the rise of this frightening hate" in 2026. He urged the Labour government to address the root economic causes driving people towards extremist narratives, but insisted trade unions must lead the frontline fight within workplaces.
Gillan expressed profound alarm at internal union surveys suggesting a significant shift in political allegiance among members. "It is scary," he said. "Some trade unions have done surveys of their members and found a large proportion are lurching to Reform." He cited one snap survey in the Midlands where 43 per cent of a union's membership indicated they were more likely to vote for Nigel Farage's party.
The Dangerous Blend of Disillusionment and Social Media
The former prison officer linked the rise to a toxic mix of economic despair and sophisticated online propaganda. He warned that "every occupation is touched by it," and that the influence is not confined to older generations. "Some young people are as well. They can be easily influenced by these so-called far-right influencers on social media, on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram," he stated.
Gillan argued that many are "not necessarily racist" but have "given up hope" after decades of seeing their communities starved of funding, affordable housing, and secure jobs. "It's insecure jobs, zero-hour contracts," he said, explaining how this vulnerability is exploited. "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 pointed to the September march in London organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) as a potent example of this mobilisation, which saw over 100,000 people take to the streets. "Ordinary men and women were turning out for it... It's frightening," Gillan remarked.
Echoes of History and a Call for Action
Drawing a direct and chilling parallel with the past, Gillan cautioned: "We can't let history repeat itself." He compared the current scapegoating of migrants and minorities to the rhetoric of Nazi Germany. "History's repeating itself. Unfortunately, we've always had to have a scapegoat," he said.
While welcoming the government's Employment Rights Act as a start, Gillan pressed for more comprehensive action. "They've got to make sure that they're dealing with the economic causes too," he insisted. "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 criticised attempts to outflank Reform UK on issues like small boats, warning "they will just keep moving the goalposts." Instead, the focus must be on restoring hope through decent jobs, the NHS, and housing. As a father and grandfather from Essex, Gillan said he is determined to make the UK a better place for future generations.
The TUC will be actively supporting initiatives like Show Racism the Red Card in schools and working with groups such as Hope not Hate. "We've got to challenge far-right ideology within workplaces. It's our job to debunk that online disinformation," Gillan concluded, pledging to use his presidency in 2026 to combat this growing threat to communities and workers.
