Challenging the politics of hate
“We must create a working class popular front against fascism and racism,” PCS told TUC Congress in a debate on challenging the politics of hate.
Unison General Secretary Christina McAnea moved motion 37 this afternoon (10) on challenging the far right. She told delegates: “Unison members were among the first responders to the tragedy in Southport. Instead of being able to get on with their job, they came under attack.
“We, as a movement, have a responsibility to expose the lies of the far right.”
NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede seconding the motion said the new government has to articulate a “positive vision for Britain – that refugees are welcome here, that migrants make our NHS and that it's the diversity of Britain that makes it a great place to live."
PCS delegate Eleanor Clarke spoke in support of the motion which expressed deep concern at the success enjoyed by Reform at the general election. The motion condemned the party’s attempts to divide communities, attack migrants and other vulnerable groups obscure how its policies stand counter to the interests of working people of all backgrounds and benefit no one but those who want to slash and burn UK regulations for private profit.
Eleanor said that Reform’s leader was “the living embodiment of the phrase the threat does not arrive in boats, but by private jet."
She expressed her horror to Congress of the events of the past few weeks which “represent the biggest uptick in far-right activity in decades.”
“These racist riots did not happen in a vacuum. They happened against the backdrop of the hostile environment,” she said. “An environment that has seen successive politicians and media figures hellbent on protecting their own vested interests and trying to convince us, the working class that all our problems are caused by people who have even less than we do.”
She said that any attempt to divide the working class will weaken us all.
“We know that it is our responsibility as a movement to challenge those who have demonised people on the basis of their race, gender or sexual orientation.”
She said: "It's our job to create a working class popular front against fascism and racism."
The motion was carried.
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