Ros Wynne-Jones pens the Real Britain column every Friday in the Daily Mirror, advocating against government cuts and championing the cause of ordinary citizens.
In late August, a group of individuals carrying flags and ladders made their way to Brighton city center. They displayed flags of St. George and the Union Jack on lampposts and shop signs. Upon removal by contractors adhering to the Highway Act, which prohibits attaching items to highway fixtures, the contractors faced verbal abuse.
During a gathering of hundreds of trade unionists at the Brighton Centre conference venue yesterday, Paul Nowak, the General Secretary of the TUC, delivered a message to the flag protestors, who have been associated with demonstrations against migrants in hotels.
He expressed, “I understand the pride people take in the Union Jack, St. George’s Cross, the Saltire, and the Red Dragon. However, true patriotism extends beyond flags. As the generation of 1945 knew, genuine patriotism involves constructing decent homes and ensuring nobody is left behind. It entails creating good jobs to alleviate poverty and instill pride in labor. Patriotism should never involve defacing homes or shops with graffiti or intimidating our community.”
Addressing the 80th Congress post-World War II, Nowak, descended from migrants from Ireland, Poland, and China, emphasized that the far-right and populist right do not advocate for or represent working-class individuals.
As Reform UK concluded its conference in Birmingham, the 157th Trade Union Congress commenced in Brighton, uniting trade unionists from across the UK under the September sun.
Nowak’s challenge to Reform and other right-wing factions on ‘genuine’ patriotism coincided with Deputy Leader Richard Tice’s statement that Ukraine should accept a compromise regarding NATO membership.
At the TUC conference, comprising 48 affiliated unions representing five million workers, Nowak offered Labour insights on countering a hard-right party claiming to speak for the working class.
He questioned Reform UK voters’ belief in the care of Nigel Farage and Richard Tice for local communities, given their activities abroad.
Many Reform UK voters express discontent with politicians and continue to feel the direct impact of the cost-of-living crisis a year after the general election.
Trade union leaders at a HOPE not Hate fringe meeting advocated for Labour’s workers’ rights reforms as the solution to challenging Reform UK’s claims of being the ‘Workers’ Party.’
Nowak’s directive to Labour was straightforward: “Demonstrate to working-class individuals that you stand by their side.”
The government has expressed full support for the bill, leaving Reform UK to face the challenge.
Nowak directly challenged Reform’s leaders to prioritize the Employment Rights Bill over their wealthy backers. He urged Farage to reveal whose side he truly supports.
