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 quick or easy.”
Mr Reynolds, who represents the constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde, in Greater Manchester, said: “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… and he was the winding engine man… that’s a position of real responsibility and actually family pride for us growing up for where we did.
“But…he had one message for my dad, which is, ‘don’t go down the mine’. And he became a fireman, again, professional working class job, but that’s the bit that our opponents don’t understand, the pride in where we’re from and what we represent, but also the aspiration for the future.
“I think we have to tell that story better. People like me have to come out and tell that story better.”
Reynolds, who led the UK government’s take-over of Chinese-owned British Steel, in Scunthorpe, went on to say he thought there was an “incredible amount of alienation” among voters.
Not enough people believed they could have a decent life, he told journalists, in contrast to when his parents, who were from Sunderland and left school at 16, were starting out in life.
“Instead of going on honeymoon. they could buy a house, the financial security for our entire family.
“That story is not available right now in this generation for British people. So that alienation is there, and we have to address that.”
Reynolds attended a comprehensive school and Manchester University before embarking on a legal career, although he never completed his solicitor training.
A Reform UK Spokesperson said: “Labour are continuing to deindustrialise our towns and communities across the country.
“They don’t blink when we lose thousands of well paid jobs in these crucial industries.
“Labour simply don’t understand working people. Reform will continue to call for the reindustrialisation of Britain and with it, bring back thousands of well paid jobs.”