Nigel Farage is facing criticism for allegedly posing as a supporter of working-class individuals, as the Labour Party launches a significant advertising campaign. Labour Party chair Anna Turley stated that the campaign aims to unveil Reform’s track record to voters and highlight the potential negative impacts of Farage gaining influence.
With the local election campaign intensifying, Labour’s ad van initiative called ‘Not on your side’ will showcase Reform’s unfavorable history in Parliament and public statements, particularly focusing on instances where Mr. Farage and Reform MPs opposed the crucial Employment Rights Bill.
The Employment Rights Bill, passed into law in late 2025, encompasses various measures such as enhancing sick pay benefits and prohibiting contentious fire and rehire practices. Reform has vowed to abolish this law and introduce new safeguards for renters through a proposed “great repeal act” if they come into power.
Labour’s advertising campaign will also draw attention to Reform’s intention to dismantle the Online Safety Act, which includes crucial safeguards for children online. This legislation mandates tech firms to implement age verification tools, regulate harmful algorithms, and remove inappropriate content.
Furthermore, the campaign will criticize Reform for voting against the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes provisions for free school breakfast clubs in primary schools.
Anna Turley remarked, “Nigel Farage is unequivocally a deceiver. He and his Reform Party pretend to champion the working class, yet repeatedly obstruct the essential reforms Labour is striving to implement for a more inclusive Britain. Under a Reform Government, families nationwide would miss out on crucial cost-of-living support.”
She added, “Labour is shedding light on the reality today: no amount of staged photo opportunities at pubs can disguise Farage’s blatant attempts to deceive working people.”
The escalation of the local elections battle follows a recent bleak forecast by experts, predicting that Labour could lose “well over” 1,000 councilors in the upcoming critical elections in May. The projection suggests the figure could potentially reach 2,000 if the party’s declining vote share trend observed in several recent council by-elections continues.
Reform UK has been approached for a response.