‘Reform UK does not share our values’: Voices from the Durham Miners’ Gala

A sign calling for solidarity with Palestine

The Durham Miners’ Gala sees tens of thousands march in the city every year. Trade unionists from across Britain come with their banners to enjoy the fun fair, speeches and brass bands. 

This year there was a more confrontational political atmosphere. 

Reform UK swept the board in Durham county council elections in May. The far right racist party won 65 councillors, while Labour Party was left with just four in one of its historic heartlands. 

The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) refused to invite Reform UK councillors to the event.

Independent councillor Russell Johnson, a former miner in Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire, was at the gala. He told Socialist Worker, “Reform UK does not share our values—they are Tories in disguise.

“I left the Labour Party because I saw Keir Starmer for what he is—never a socialist, never will be.”

Rachel, who was marching with the Coppull and Chorley miners’ wives banner, agreed. She told Socialist Worker, “Reform UK stands for everything we don’t. It’s not a working class movement, it’s an establishment movement. 

“They are racist. They are despicable. They want the working class to pick on the most vulnerable in society. I see that already as a disabled person.”

Others were more sympathetic to Reform UK’s message and bought the racist lie that migrants are a drain on resources. 

Brian from Thornley in County Durham comes from a family of miners. He told Socialist Worker, “Everyone I speak to hates the government because they are going back on their word. 

“The illegal immigrants are coming on the boats. They should have stopped the boats from day one. I’m not racist but people who have worked hard all their lives get nothing. Refugees get everything for free.”

Another older man from a mining area said that he didn’t agree with the DMA’s decision because it makes the gala “political”. He added that he had given up on Labour—“It’s the worst government we have ever had.” 

The DMA slammed Reform UK Nigel Farage for his support for Margaret Thatcher’s assault on the trade unions and for wanting to slash public spending. And it pointed out the racism of some of the far right party’s councillors. 

Pelton councillor Steven Biggs said on social media that “Islam has no place on this earth. One big nuke bomb needed!” 

Former GB News presenter Darren Grimes and another councillor, Jackie Teasdale, have both expressed support for Nazi Tommy Robinson. 

Grimes whined that being excluded was hurtful and slammed DMA secretary Alan Mardghum. He said, “No gatekeeper in a flat cap that is cosplaying Durham miners of the past is going to rewrite who counts as ‘working class’ here in Durham.” 

Mardghum is a former miner who was lost his job when Wearmouth Colliery was shut down in 1993. 

Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot was invited to speak at the event after lobbying from local trade unionists and members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 

Another local Reform UK branch in Seaham—a former coal mining town on the coast—this made the gala a “propaganda platform for Hamas”. 

A small group, including one man with a Reform UK T-shirt and an Israeli flag, jeered at the Palestine solidarity bloc at the gala. 

Reform UK presents itself as a working class party. It takes votes from Labour. But its rise also cuts into the Tory vote. 

Durham has historically tended to vote Labour. But since 2021 the county council has been run by a coalition of Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents. 

With the swing to Reform UK this year, the Tories saw their number of council seats plummet from 16 to one.

The far right party has since pursued an anti-woke agenda. One of its first acts has been to rename council departments and job roles to remove references to climate change, equality and diversity. 

And it took down a rainbow flag at County Hall just days before the annual Pride event. 

Mardghum got a big cheer on stage when he said Reform UK will never be invited to the platform at the gala. 

He described “racist bile” over the Palestinian ambassador, explaining that international speakers have been invited to the event since 1876. 

And he said, “Reform UK councillors pulled down the pride flag from County Hall. The Durham miners will raise it higher than it’s ever been.”

Unite union leader Sharon Graham said, “What is happening in Gaza is genocide, pure and simple”. And she said she would support any Unite member who refuses to handle goods destined for Israel. 

Jeremy Corbyn blamed “ignorant, short sighted and frankly nasty” people who scapegoat refugees for poverty and inequality. 

Reform UK’s anti-working class policies and attacks on the NHS are bound to be unpopular with working class voters, including older and disabled people. Anti-racists should keep calling them Tories in disguise. 

But Reform UK builds a base of support by latching onto people’s anger and despair and wrapping it in anti-migrant racism. 

Taking on the lies about immigration—and saying, “Blame the rich, not migrants”—is key to pushing back Reform UK.