Reform UK are no friend of the workers – here’s why

Contact: [email protected] / 0207 952 1183

With the British Steel factory in Scunthorpe in the news this week, Nigel Farage and Reform UK have attempted to portray themselves as being on the side of the working people in the UK. 

However, all four Reform UK MPs voted against the Employment Rights Bill workers rights, including voting against banning zero hours contracts and giving all workers sick pay from day one – policies which are overwhelmingly popular across the country. 

HOPE not hate and the TUC conducted a mega poll in February 2025 which revealed that over 70% of people in the UK, from all walks of life, agree with making sure more people have access to sick pay when they need it, and banning zero hour contracts.

The polling also shows:

• Banning zero hours contracts by giving workers a contract that reflects their regular hours: More than 7 in 10 (72%) of UK voters support a ban on zero hours contracts – including 2 in 3 Reform (65%) and Conservative (63%) voters from the 2024 general election support banning zero hours contracts. The figure is even higher with those saying they would vote Conservative (65%) and Reform (67%) if there was a general election held tomorrow. Just 15% oppose the policy.  
• Giving all workers statutory sick pay from day one: 3 in 4 (74%) voters support giving all workers the right to statutory sick pay, and ensuring it is paid from the first day – including 2 in 3 Reform (64%) and Conservative (62%) voters from the 2024 general election. The figure is even higher with those saying they would vote Conservative (65%) and Reform (66%) if there was a general election held tomorrow. Just 14 % oppose the policy,  
• Giving all workers protection from unfair dismissal from day one: 3 in 4 (73%) voters support giving all workers protection from unfair dismissal from the first day in the job – including 2 in 3 Reform (62%) and Conservative (62%) voters from the 2024 general election. The figure is even higher with those saying they would vote Conservative (65%) and Reform (64%) if there was a general election held tomorrow. Just 14% oppose the policy.  
• Making it easier for people to have flexibility in their patterns or hours of work: 3 in 4 (74%) voters support making it easier to work flexibly – including 2 in 3 Reform (63%) and Conservative (64%) voters from the 2024 general election. The figure is even higher with those saying they would vote Conservative (67%) and Reform (65%) if there was a general election held tomorrow. Just 12% oppose the policy. 

Georgie Laming, Director of Campaigns at HOPE not hate said: 

“The public are clear – we all want decent jobs that pay us fairly. But Nigel Farage is trying to pull the wool over our eyes. His party voted against the Employment Rights Bill, against sick pay and protection from day one and against banning the worst zero-hour hiring practices, and against. It’s simple, Reform UK is no friend of the workers.”

Notes to editors:

• Spokespeople from HOPE not hate are available on request.
• HOPE not hate and TUC released the poll in February 2025, read more here https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/new-mega-poll-shows-employment-rights-bills-critics-are-world-away-british-public 

Contact:  

hopenothate.org.uk | @hopenothate | [email protected] | 0207 952 1183 

HOPE not hate builds hope and counters the politics of hate through research, campaigning and community engagement. We focus on the organised far right, the communities who are susceptible to them and the issues and policies which give rise to them.