Received from: TUC Women's Conference
This conference believes that misogyny is a defining feature of far-right ideology, not an incidental one. Far-right groups often frame feminism as a source of moral decay and fuels policies that seek to control women’s bodies, restrict reproductive rights, and confine women to domestic roles.
Online spaces tied to far-right extremism from incel forums to nationalist movements, regularly use gendered hatred to recruit disaffected men and to create a shared identity rooted in resentment. Prominent far-right figures glorify hyper-masculinity while vilifying ‘liberal’ men, reinforcing patriarchal hierarchies. Misogyny acts as both a unifying ideology and a tool of radicalisation, linking gender oppression with nationalism, racism, and authoritarianism.
We express deep concern over the growing trend of blaming migrants for rape and sexual attacks in the UK. Such narratives are often fuelled by misinformation, political opportunism and sensationalist reporting, which distort evidence and contribute to fear, division, racism and xenophobia. Sexual violence is a serious societal issue that affects people across all backgrounds, and addressing it requires a focus on the behaviour of perpetrators, not the nationality of communities.
This conference is concerned that public discourse, social media commentary and reporting on ‘Operation Raise the Flags’ and associated protests has disproportionately focused on and amplified the highly divisive rhetoric and actions of anti-immigration campaigners.
We reject the far right’s lies about ‘protecting’ women and girls; they seek to exploit violence against women to fuel division.
Conference notes Nigel Farage and Reform UK representatives frequently link the perceived threat to women and girl’s safety to illegal immigration, however Conference disputes that, believing that the greater danger is Reform themselves.
Reform’s manifesto pledges to scrap The Equality Act 2010 removing legal foundations that protect women from discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Reform MPs have voted against Bills that would tackle stalking and want to see the Online Safety Bill repealed.
Nigel Farage has called abortion time limits “utterly ludicrous” and appointed Professor James Orr, who opposes abortion in all circumstances, as a senior advisor. He has weaponised the trauma of survivors of grooming gangs and has called Andrew Tate “an important voice for men”.
Conference acknowledges that Reform UK are gaining traction with voters, but they must not be allowed to use safety concerns of women and girls to push far right rhetoric and their social agenda.
Conference condemns the racist riots in UK towns and cities and the rise in racist hate crime, the highest level since records began.
Increased abuse, threats and attacks on immigrants inevitably normalises discrimination against other communities and places journalists covering the protests at risk, whether on the street or in the newsroom.
NUJ members have reported a stark rise in aggression and hostility, with Black and Asian journalists especially affected. The rise in verbal, physical and online abuse has led to doxxing and safety fears for women journalists and their families, also impacting on children.
The abuse is intersectional and creates a chilling effect that risks silencing the voices of diverse journalists at a time when plurality of viewpoints in the media is vital to challenge misinformation and division. Difficult editorial decisions about reporting, risks making minoritised journalists a target at work. Ethical journalism suffers as a result.
Conference stands in solidarity with refugees and migrants many of whom are survivors of violence and persecution. We must tackle the deep-rooted causes of abuse against women and defend all women and girls including those in refugee and migrant communities. Those who have come here to work, study, join family or seek protection are an asset to our country and unions are vital in welcoming and defending migrant and refugee women.
We affirm that scapegoating individuals because of the colour of their skin, their religion or immigration status neither supports survivors nor improves public safety. Instead, it undermines social cohesion, discourages reporting of crimes, and diverts attention from the systemic reforms needed to prevent sexual violence. This conference commits to promoting evidence-based discussion and ensuring that all communities are treated with dignity and fairness.
Aggressive misogyny including sexual violence is on the rise. The far right rely on peddling the damaging myth that the greatest risk of gender-based violence comes from strangers. The trade union movement must counter this narrative in the strongest terms.
This conference deplores:
i. the far right’s and Reform politicians’ weaponisation of slogans about protection of women and children to incite division and hate on anti-immigration protests throughout the UK
ii. Reform politicians threatening de-funding of equality work.
This conference recognises:
a. the urgency to improve services to support women and children facing violence
b. one in three of those arrested on far-right demos in August 2024, had prior convictions for domestic abuse and violence, as was widely reported in the press
c. the key role unions must take in challenging the impact of far-right propaganda in working class communities.
Conference therefore calls on the TUC and TUC Women’s Committee to vigorously campaign against Reform UK and the politics of division, including a gendered element to this work which highlights Reform UK policies that would strip women and girls of rights and their promotion of ‘traditional gender roles’.
This conference instructs the TUC Women’s committee to:
1. campaign on unifying TUC policy of jobs, homes and services, not racism, to cut across the policies of division of Reform and the far right
2. ensure the campaign for the TUC demonstration against government public spending cuts includes central demands to oppose all sexual harassment and violence, restoring and expanding funding for women’s services
3. be active in the anti-racist movement
4. build alliances with feminist and anti-racist movements, using collective strength to counter hate
5. highlight the positive contributions of migrant and refugee women and the inequalities they face
6. highlight the harm caused to women by anti-immigration and racist rhetoric
7. challenge these harmful narratives and support calls for ethical journalism
8. call for a national strategy to counter misinformation, racist and xenophobic narratives around crime
9. combat misogyny and far-right influence through education and run awareness campaigns exposing how far-right ideologies exploit sexism to divide workers
10. encourage affiliates to run campaigns to tackle sexual harassment, violence against women and racism, addressing misinformation and division spread by the far right to scapegoat asylum seekers
11. actively support affiliates to train union reps in anti-racism and anti-sexism
12. support affiliates to identify Black women activists, recruit new Black women reps and remove barriers to their activism
13. engage our young members to help in challenging toxic masculinity and prevent radicalisation
14. advocate for stronger equality laws and workplace protections, ensuring that gender justice remains central to the labour movement’s mission
15. campaign for better-funded, survivor-centred sexual violence services that are accessible to all.
TUC Women’s Conference