The Labour government has been warned to tackle the affordability crisis or expect economic insecurity to continue fuelling the rise of far-right and populist politics.
In his New Year’s Message published this past weekend, Trades Union Congress general secretary Paul Nowak said affordability must be the number one focus of the government in 2026.
Nowak cited polling that showed one in five Britons are skipping meals regularly, one in three are cutting back on their heating, and four in five say their financial circumstances are stagnant or worsening.
He warned the government that if it attempts to dilute workers’ rights or neglects their growing concerns over the cost of living, this will risk the further rise of far-rights and populist politics.
“Right now, the biggest threat facing families is brutally simple – not having enough to live a decent, dignified life,” Nowak said.
“People who once had enough in their pockets to take the family out for a meal, or go on a nice holiday, are now left wondering why life is getting harder, not better.”
“For too many people change still feels like a slogan and the thing that they want to see most of all now is their living standards improving,” he said.
Nowak argued that Britain’s broken public services are a key part of the affordability crisis, with people disillusioned by the lack of clean and well-maintained infrastructure that works and operates on schedule, from busses to parks.
He said broken public services have knock-on effects that negatively impact the economy and people’s lives, from losing work to sickness.
In his address, Nowak also condemned Nigel Farage’s populist rhetoric, saying that he does not recommend working people.
“If this government wants to rebuild trust, then showing working people it’s on their side as it drives up living standards must be its top priority,” he said.
“Because let’s be honest – Nigel Farage isn’t interested in making life more affordable for ordinary families. The only incomes he wants to make bigger are his own and those of his corporate donors. The interests of Thailand-based crypto investors are not the same as the British public.”
“2026 must be the year we start turning economic security into a lived reality. A year people begin to feel things can better again. A year that we have a relentless focus on living standards. Because we cannot afford anything less,” Nowak said.
Leave a Reply