Union members now as likely to support Reform as Labour, damning new poll finds
Sir Keir Starmer has dealt his party a major blow, a new poll has revealed; union members are now as likely to support Reform England as they are Labor.
Latest figures show Labour’s support among union members has fallen by 20 points since 2024; This situation, declared by union leaders, is proof that “the working class has abandoned the party.”
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s party has gained 20 points since the general election, placing Reform and Labor in 28th place in the poll of 1,002 public sector union members.
Survey conducted by JL Partners TimesThis will be a wake-up call for Labor, which has historically had close ties to UK unions and their members.
But Reform UK has threatened the party’s dominance in traditional industrial centres, as last month’s disastrous local election results showed.
Sir Keir’s position is under increasing pressure and after the local elections Labor Party groups issued a statement calling for the prime minister to resign.
Unite leader Sharon Graham said the figures were “damning but not surprising” and warned there was “no guarantee that workers will return to the party”.
“The Labor Party abandoned the working class, and the working class abandoned the Labor Party,” he said Times.
“Being prepared to cut winter fuel subsidies, cut disability benefits, and aid and abet the unemployment of oil and gas workers while workers and their families grapple with an entrenched livelihood crisis is not the change people voted for.”
Unite is still Labour’s biggest donor, but announced earlier this year it would cut its contributions by 40 per cent and reportedly held a meeting with Reform UK officials in Birmingham over bin strikes.
GMB general secretary Gary Smith has warned that the government’s energy policies will “alienate more and more workers” and lead to an “election disaster” for Labor.
“Reform is no friend of workers. They want to cancel crucial union rights and target the pensions of low-wage earners.” Times.
“But Labor must show working-class people that it can be on their side, as it did last week with essential aid to our ceramics industry.”
TSSA transport workers union leader Maryam Eslamdoust warned Labor must “completely change political course” if it wants to keep Mr Farage out of power.
he said Times: “The Labor Party must completely change the political course. Failure to do so will only open the door to a far-right government led by Farage.”
Sir Keir’s position is under increasing pressure and after the local elections many union leaders called for his resignation.
Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Paul Nowak said last week there was an “overwhelming sense of disappointment” in unions.
Mr Farage also commented on the poll, declaring that Labor was “no longer the party of the patriotic working class”.
he said Times: “That mantle now belongs to Reform, the party of those who work hard but the system does not work.”
