Ignore Reform UK at our peril, Communist Party warns

Nigel Farage speaking at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February -- Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“The left and the labour movement ignore recent advances by Reform UK at our peril”, Robert Griffiths warned the Communist Party of Britain’s political committee on Sunday (December 14).

He was speaking after nine local council by-elections in England and Scotland showed gains in seats and vote share for the right-wing Reform UK party as Labour’s vote collapsed almost everywhere. Plaid Cymru consolidated its majority vote in Caerffili.

“People’s anger and frustration at the Labour central government’s failure to control energy and housing bills, improve local services and tackle Britain’s chronic housing crisis is enabling Reform UK to peddle its bogus agenda with wide if shallow credibility”, the CP general secretary argued.

“Many working class people are swallowing the lie that immigration is to blame for their problems, reinforced in that delusion by the gutter press and the Labour government’s own anti-immigration rhetoric”, Mr. Griffiths declared.

“At the same time”, he pointed out, “there is widespread support for progressive policies such as price controls on essential goods and services; renationalisation of water, gas and electricity; a wealth tax on the super-rich; and greater public investment in vital industries and services”.

“Yet most of these policies are opposed by Reform UK – a party led by Thatcherite and pro-Trump multimillionaires in the interests of the multimillionaires”, the CP leader accused.

The Communist Party political committee agreed proposals to help expose the pro-big business and anti-working class character of Reform UK, while promoting an alternative left-wing programme.

Britain’s Communists also condemned the “war-mongering militarism” being whipped up by the Trump administration, NATO, the EU, and Labour Cabinet ministers.

In particular, the CP leadership highlighted the new US National Security strategy, which proclaims the right of US imperialism to intervene in the affairs of every Latin America country, and the new EU Military Mobility package which allows all transport facilities to be commandeered for war preparations.