Patriotism is about much more than flags – it’s about creating good jobs, building decent homes and ensuring no-one is left behind, says the General Secretary of the TUC
In late August, a group of people armed with flags and ladders took to Brighton city centre. Flags of St George and the Union Jack went up on lampposts and were attached to shop signs. Contractors removing them in line with the Highway Act – under which it is an offence to tie things to ‘highway fixtures’ – were subjected to verbal abuse.
Yesterday, addressing hundreds of trade unionists inside the Brighton Centre conference venue, the General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak had a message for flag protesters – who, in turn, have been linked to anti-migrant hotel demonstrations.
“I understand people take pride in the Union Jack, in the St George’s Cross, the Saltire and the Red Dragon,” he said. “But patriotism is about much more than flags.
“As that 1945 generation knew, real patriotism is about building decent homes, and ensuring no-one is left behind.
“It’s about creating good jobs, so people aren’t left in poverty and feel pride in their labour. And real patriotism is never about daubing graffiti on people’s homes or shops or intimidating our friends and neighbours.
“That’s not patriotism and it should shame anyone who loves this country.”
Addressing the 80th Congress since the end of World War II, Nowak, the grandson of migrants from Ireland, Poland and China, said: “Congress, the far right, and populist right don’t care about working-class people, they don’t speak for working-class people, and they never will.
“That’s our job.”
As the curtain swung shut on Reform UK’s own conference in Birmingham, the 157th Trade Union Congress was beginning in Brighton, bringing together trade unionists from across the UK in the September sunshine.
Nowak’s challenge to Reform and other right-wing parties on ‘real’ patriotism came as its Deputy Leader Richard Tice said Ukraine must accept an “uncomfortable compromise” over NATO membership.
And just days after leader Farage was dismissed as a “Putin-loving free speech impostor” by Democrat Jamie Raskin when he gave evidence at the US Congress.
From the conference stage, the General Secretary of the TUC – which brings together 48 affiliated unions, representing five million workers – offered Labour a masterclass in taking on a hard-right party that purports to speak for the working class.
“To those who voted Reform at the last election, and to those who are considering voting for Reform,” Nowak said, “I get your frustration with mainstream politics.
“I get your sense that change isn’t coming fast enough. And I respect your right to vote for whoever you choose. But ask yourself this fundamental question. Do you believe, in your gut, that Nigel Farage really cares about the people of Clacton, when he is off collecting his speaker fees in the United States?
“That Richard Tice really worries about the people of Skegness, while he’s living it up at home in Dubai?”
Delegates in Brighton know well that many Reform UK voters are fed up with all politicians and, a year on from the general election, are still feeling the cost-of-living crisis directly in their pockets.
At a HOPE not Hate fringe meeting, trade union leaders from ASLEF, Unison, the Bakers Union and others said that Labour’s transformational workers’ rights reforms – which some fear may have been thrown into jeopardy by the departure of the bill’s champion, Angela Rayner – were the only way to defeat Nigel Farage’s claim that Reform UK are the ‘Workers’ Party’.
Nowak’s message to Labour was clear. “Show working class people you are on their side.”
In response the government has said it is “absolutely backing” the bill – leaving the challenge now open to Reform UK.
Yesterday, Nowak made a direct challenge to Reform’s leaders: “Ignore your wealthy backers and vote for the Employment Rights Bill,” he said. “Nigel Farage, it’s time to come clean about whose side you are really on.”