Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has emphasized Labour’s need to more effectively communicate the concerns and aspirations of working-class communities.
Addressing parliamentary journalists, he dismissed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s proposal to reopen Welsh coal mines as “an absolute parody,” highlighting the disconnect between such suggestions and the realities of working-class life.
Reynolds shared a personal anecdote, recounting how his coal miner grandfather, despite his pride in the profession, advised his son (Reynolds’ father) against following in his footsteps, leading him to a career as a firefighter. This illustrates, Reynolds argued, the inherent aspiration for upward mobility within working-class families.
A Reform UK spokesperson countered that the party remains committed to British reindustrialization.
Prior to a visit to Port Talbot, Nigel Farage stated in WalesOnline: “We would allow coal, if suitable, to be mined in Wales as part of Reform’s long-term ambition to reopen the Port Talbot steelworks, though we know this will not be quick or easy.”
Mr. Reynolds responded: “That is an absolute parody of what someone like Nigel thinks people, the people I grew up with, actually want. My grandfather was a coal miner… a position of real responsibility and family pride. But… he told my dad, ‘don’t go down the mine’. He became a fireman – a professional working-class job. This demonstrates the pride in our origins, alongside the aspiration for a better future. We need to tell that story better.”
Reynolds, who oversaw the government’s acquisition of British Steel in Scunthorpe, also noted a significant level of voter alienation, suggesting that the financial security his parents’ generation enjoyed is largely absent for today’s youth.
He contrasted his parents’ ability to purchase a home soon after marriage with the current economic climate, emphasizing the need to address this growing disconnect.
Reynolds attended a comprehensive school and Manchester University before pursuing a legal career, though he did not complete his solicitor training.
A Reform UK spokesperson stated: “Labour continues to deindustrialize our towns and communities. They show no hesitation in accepting the loss of thousands of well-paid jobs in vital industries. Labour simply doesn’t understand working people. Reform will continue to advocate for British reindustrialization and the return of thousands of well-paid jobs.”
Jonathan Reynolds made these remarks at a Westminster reception for Northern Ireland businesses.
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