Overview

• Paul Nowak used his TUC Congress keynote in Brighton to label Nigel Farage and Reform UK 'right-wing con men' and to challenge their claims to represent working people.
• He said every Reform MP, including Farage, voted against a ban on fire-and-rehire, against banning zero-hours contracts, and against day-one rights for millions of workers.
• Nowak questioned Farage’s US speaking engagements and Richard Tice’s time in Dubai as he alleged hypocrisy, urging voters to judge Reform by its record.
• Union leaders warned Labour is losing support among working people to Reform and voiced alarm that recent departures, including Angela Rayner’s, could see the Employment Rights Bill watered down when it returns to the Commons next week.
• Downing Street and ministers, including Luke Pollard, insisted there will be no rowing back on workers’ rights and said the government plans to overturn Lords changes as the bill progresses.