Labour must tell its working class story, says Jonathan Reynolds

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said Labour needs to be “better” at telling the story of the working-class communities it represents.

Speaking at a lunch for parliamentary journalists, he accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of being an “absolute parody” when he said he wanted to re-open coal mines in Wales.

Reynolds said his grandfather was a coal miner, but told his son “don’t go down the mines”. His father became a firefighter instead.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said the party would continue to call for the reindustrialisation of Britain.

Ahead of a visit to Port Talbot on Monday, Nigel Farage wrote on 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 but we know this will not be…