Last week brought fantastic news: Plaid Cymru’s Lyndsay Whittle delivered a victory speech. I’ve been increasingly concerned by the constant noise, shouting, and prominence given to the populist right across the UK. It was gratifying to see Wales deliver a clear rebuke to Reform and, while they were at it, a slap to Labour. As a white, working-class individual, I have no tolerance for populism and the far-right.

I was born into a working-class family, and I’ve always had working-class jobs, which I’ve mostly enjoyed. These are jobs where you don’t earn much, always a bit at the mercy of the next paycheck, but it’s a job, and I’ve never resented them. Some of those jobs have been very fulfilling, some haven’t. I left full-time education very young, at 14, and became a baker’s apprentice. After three long years with very antisocial hours, fuelled on iced coffee to stay awake and cool (it’s hot in a bakery), perfecting the knack of folding fresh croissant dough, and learning how to be patient with proving sourdough bread, I managed to get my baker’s diploma to the astonishment of my boss.  

I don’t have any other diplomas and never pursued higher education; that’s just how it went.

Upon moving to the UK, I chose not to pursue a baking career, instead finding a similar working-class environment within the hospitality industry. I continue to be drawn to the passion, camaraderie, and constant problem-solving that define this field.

The Far Right’s Betrayal of the Working Class

From a young age in the workforce, I recognised the far right as a primary adversary of the working class.. The far right disguises itself as your best friend, full of the best intentions for the working class, but in truth, they despise the working class; we actually do not exist as such, but exist as the “common people”, a term I despise. Ah, the “common people”—those elusive creatures often found expertly balancing a pint and a sausage roll for the paparazzi. One can only assume these are the same folks who can simultaneously tell you the offside rule and the secret to a perfect pastry.

The populist right wing and far right will use the working class as a pawn, use the working class to their own advantage and dispose of the working class when their work is done, and it’s never pretty. 

They’ve been calling us the “chavs”, we’re stupid, promiscuous, mostly on the dole, they love to see the working class as a carbon-copy of the TV series “Little Britain”, and from their perspective, that is essentially what we are, a group of people they can snigger at. 

They will deny us an education under the pretence of “Skills Not Studies’’ as there’s nothing worse than an educated working class who knows how to ask a question. 

They also love to blame anyone and anything which doesn’t suit their sordid plans, pointing fingers at fabricated issues. They’re full of “legitimate concerns” and empty promises and very good at exploiting our fears and struggles for their own advantage. 

My friend, don’t be misled: the reason you can’t find a job isn’t that an immigrant took it. It’s because there are simply no well-paying jobs available near you. If you are fortunate enough to have access to public transportation, the cost of travelling by train or bus can be exorbitant. Additionally, the challenge of buying a house isn’t due to an immigrant claiming it, but rather the result of a lack of new construction. Many people are paying an average of 44% of their salary on rent, making it incredibly difficult to save for a deposit. Good luck with that!

The far right has nothing to offer to the working class; the link between the far right and the ultra-wealthy is well-documented and established. 

The Peril of Complacency: A Call to Action

Waking up on Friday morning to see the Caerphilly results filled me with a profound sense of hope and renewed optimism for our nation’s future. The strong showing at the polls in Caerphilly, the undeniable growth of the Green Party in England, served as a powerful counter-narrative to the pervasive fear that we are inexorably spiralling towards the dangerous clutches of far-right populism. It’s a testament to the fact that a significant portion of the electorate is actively seeking alternatives, rejecting the divisive rhetoric and simplistic solutions offered by those who seek to exploit our anxieties.

We simply cannot afford to be complacent, to be oblivious to the very real threat of surrendering what little remains of our collective resources and social fabric to these charlatans of the far-right. As has been reiterated time and again, if we are so willing to hand them the reins of power, the consequences will be devastating. It won’t merely be a difficult and disastrous period for working-class individuals, who will undoubtedly bear the brunt of their regressive policies, but it will be a deeply unsettling and potentially calamitous era for all of us. Their agendas, driven by exclusion and the dismantling of essential services, will erode the very foundations of a just and equitable society, leaving no one untouched by the resulting instability and hardship. The future hinges on our collective vigilance and our unwavering commitment to safeguarding democratic values and fostering a society built on compassion and shared prosperity.