Live Decisions of Congress 2026

Composite J (covering Motions 90, 91, 94 & 95 and Amended Motion 93)

The Far Right

“That this Congress notes:

• within the context of the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades, and amidst high levels of homelessness and growing in-work poverty, racist mobilisations against accommodation housing asylum seekers and demonstrations calling for ‘mass deportations’ are on the rise;
• the far-right is targeting areas facing housing shortages and high levels of deprivation, and circulating myths and misleading online videos that position asylum seekers and migrants as a threat, most notably to women and girls;
• Reform UK is currently leading opinion polls and set to come second in Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd elections and to make serious gains in English council elections in May;
• fascist Tommy Robinson headed the largest ever far-right demonstration in British history on 13^th September 2025 and has called another demonstration on 16^th May 2026;
• the main perpetrators of anti-migrant activities in Erskine, Falkirk, and many other communities, Patriotic Alternative, who have a weekly presence in Clydebank, are allowed to operate despite being openly fascist with links to other neo-Nazi groups and spreading racism, hatred and violence; and
• this July marks the 90^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and opposing the far-right honours the proud legacy of over 500 men and women who volunteered from Scotland to help defend the democratically elected Government of the Spanish Republic from the forces of Spanish, German, and Italian fascism.

“Congress condemns the far-right’s:

• attacks on the homes of those seeking asylum, including women and children;
• vilification, intimidation, and attacks on those who oppose them;
• targeting of workers leaving or approaching their workplaces.
• focus on trade unionists and trade union events for attack;
• targeting of elected politicians;
• attacks on individuals, places of worship, and businesses of Scotland’s ethnic communities; and
• use of racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic slogans and social media posts.”

“Congress believes:

• the rise of the far-right is a serious threat to all minority groups, communities, and trade union members;
• there is a concerted effort by the right to delegitimise and delegalize non-white UK citizens;
• violence against women and girls is a serious issue, and will never be solved by scapegoating refugees, Muslims, migrants, or trans people;
• freedom of expression does not entitle fascists to advocate violence against asylum seekers and immigrants, and our movement must respond robustly to fascists;
• the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US targets racialised communities and has induced real fear among our black and brown brothers and sisters across the US and Europe;
• countering far right narratives has been made more difficult by a growing distrust of mainstream media, politics, and institutions; and
• we will only defeat the far-right by uniting as a class and demanding real class-based change through discussion in the workplace and our communities.

“Congress welcomes:

• the work being done by affiliates to develop comprehensive strategies for tackling the far-right;
• STUC initiatives on workplace education including ‘Shifting the Dial - Building Belonging’ and on understanding and countering online hate and disinformation;
• the role played by TUCs across Scotland and asks affiliates to support them and encourage members to participate.
• the role played by trade unionists in Dundee who have been crucial in directly opposing more than 40 far-right ‘protests’;
• the Employment Rights Bill and its focus on strengthening union organising and extending collective bargaining to promote racial justice and tackle inequality;
• the formation of the TOGETHER Alliance (TA), initiated by Stand up to Racism (SUTR); and
• the formation of Women Against the Far-Right (WAFR, initiated by SUTR) to challenge the weaponisation of gender-based violence by the far-right.

“Congress calls on the General Council to:

• develop and refine its strategy to tackle the far-right and support affiliates in doing the same;
• lobby Scottish and UK governments to push back on, rather than pander to, far-right narratives; to recognise the surest way to defeat grievance politics is to improve jobs, raise living standards, and invest in public services and communities; and continue to improve workers’ rights;
• publicise local anti-racist counter-protests and encourage inclusive union activities which can support engagement from all workers;
• support anti-racist unity rallies and events in the run up to the elections and beyond to ensure a united, mass campaign against the far-right;
• encourage unions to build local alliances with community organisations, such as Falkirk for All, and build inclusive and intersectional grassroots resistance;
• shift the trade union narrative from countering the far-right, to presenting a viable alternative which focuses on the needs of the working class and sets out a vision for wealth distribution;
• recognise the critical role of education in tackling the far-right, and promote the tools and strategies created by TIE to counter the effects of online hate and disinformation;
• talk more openly and consistently about racism, Islamophobia, and all forms of intersecting inequalities, sharing a welcoming narrative of Scotland, highlighting positive role models;
• support the TOGETHER launch statement and to sign up to it;
• support WAFR and its initiatives;
• focus resources on proactive and targeted education, rapid response to discrimination, and collective action against far-?right organising;
• encourage affiliates to embed anti?racist practice in all activity, ensuring members are protected, empowered and supported to challenge injustice wherever it appears; and
• campaign for Patriotic Alternative to be a proscribed organisation.

Mover:  Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW)

Seconder: NASUWT

Supporter: STUC Black Workers’ Conference

Clydebank Trades Union Council

Dundee Trades Union Council

Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)