Britain’s top union leader has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reject right-wing rhetoric on immigration and return to progressive Labour values. Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), issued a strong warning, saying the left must not echo the right in migration debates.
Nowak made the comments in an article calling for Labour to lead with solutions rooted in fairness and economic reform. He criticised speeches from both Nigel Farage and Starmer that, in his view, failed to reflect Labour’s traditional principles of dignity and equality.
This follows Starmer’s recent pledge to tighten immigration rules, including banning care workers from receiving UK work visas. Nowak mentioned care workers multiple times, arguing they are crucial yet undervalued. He linked the UK’s reliance on migrant labour to failures in public investment and workforce planning.
He said the left should not compromise its values or imitate populist narratives. Instead, he argued for a clear plan that addresses public concerns without scapegoating migrants.
With Chancellor Rachel Reeves preparing a tight spending review, Nowak demanded funding for the Fair Pay Agreement in social care. He also called for proper resources for the Fair Work Agency. These initiatives, he said, would reduce the need for migrant labour by improving wages and working conditions.
Farage recently claimed his Reform Party is the new voice of workers. This claim, paired with rising poll numbers, has rattled Labour leadership. Starmer responded by warning that Farage’s policies would lead to an economic crash like Liz Truss’s.
Nowak, while not naming Farage directly, condemned the populist right for spreading falsehoods. He said they wrongly blame migrants for rising living costs and service cuts.
He added that most British people are not anti-immigration but are tired of a chaotic, unfair system. He stressed the public still supports offering sanctuary to those fleeing war.
The TUC boss wants asylum seekers to work while awaiting decisions. He believes this would reduce public costs and allow people to contribute to the economy.
He urged ministers to give the Fair Work Agency full enforcement power to tackle rogue employers. These firms often underpay migrant workers and weaken national labour standards, he warned.
Nowak concluded by urging Labour to lead with solutions, not fear. He said the left must fill the vacuum left by populist myths with fairness, order, and dignity.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
