red star commando

Guardians of Law and Order

2011-08-11T21:58:00.004Z

From Ian Bone's blog Case Study One: Gerald Kaufman MP fraudulently claimed £750 for a Bang and Olufsen television on his parliamentary expenses. He was not prosecuted but asked to repay the £750 Case Study Two: A young woman with no previous is alleged to have looted a Bang and Olufsen television from a store in Manchester

order reigns in Tottenham, order reigns in Clapham

2011-08-10T22:48:00.004Z

“Order prevails in Warsaw!” declared Minister Sebastiani to the Paris Chamber of Deputies in 1831, when after having stormed the suburb of Praga, Paskevich’s marauding troops invaded the Polish capital to begin their butchery of the rebels. “Order prevails in Berlin!” So proclaims the bourgeois press triumphantly, so proclaim Ebert and Noske, and the officers of the “victorious troops,” who

No Class (my arse)

2011-07-18T20:33:00.001Z

They say that class don't matter, But that just cannot be, The jury said they're innocent, They each had a degree. No previous bad character, And references galore, A soldier and a nurse for friends, Well who could ask for more? They say we are all equal, It's simply just not true, The way the law applies to me, Does not apply to you. We all sat in the courtroom, Accused of the same crime, You're

solidarity is a two way street

2011-07-05T19:13:00.002Z

from the Norfolk Community Action Groupby Ruahri ó CléirighIt’s been an interesting week, watching the media talk up a riot, public servants ‘STRIKING…RALLYING…MARCHING!’Yet it seems it doesn’t have enough ‘oomph’ anymore for the press. It’s only newsworthy if there’s a ruckus involving ‘latchers on’ from the ‘anarchist movement’…heaven forbid an anarchist might themselves be part of a Labour

reflections on J30

2011-07-02T09:46:00.003Z

Miliband on BBC yesterdayI must admit to heretical thoughts in the lead up to J30, the first concerted national strike action in response to the Condem assault has been the subject to paeons of hyperbole from the left press whose salivating coverage was mirrored by the fake horror of the right wing press at what one might have thought from the coverage was the presage to

solidarity with anti fascist prisoners

2011-06-30T21:29:00.001Z

Six antifascists were recently fitted-up and sent to prison. Because of ongoing legal issues, for the moment we are unable to say more about their case, but a full report will eventually be issued. Suffice to say, they have been well and truly fucked over and deserve our fullest support and solidarity. Please write to them. (One person has asked to be left off lists and therefere no longer

1984 reviewed on amazon

2011-06-27T18:26:00.002Z

1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four (Penguin Modern Classics) by George OrwellEdition: Paperback Price: £5.78 Availability: In stock 257 of 354 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Completely misleading, 11 Oct 2009 This review is from: 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback) Do not buy this book if you're expecting to find out anything at all about

"graceless, voracious, crass, always on the take"

2011-06-27T07:55:00.002Z

Glastonbury is nowadays a dull, corporatised affair, the place where middle aged advertising executives and public sector managers go to pretend that they are still as 'radical' and 'with it' as they were when they were 19 and once smoked a herbal cigarette at Live Aid. Even the (fairly limp) attempt by UKuncut to embarrass U2, was punctured by the festival security, determined to keep EavisWorld

Counterfire: when rape is relative...

2011-06-23T11:32:00.005Z

Victoria Darbyshire Radio 5 "But rape is rape"Kenneth Clarke "No it isn't"There was a great deal of justified anger when the oiliest of an oily bunch, ken clarke suggested that certain catergories of rape should be considered lesser crimes. the outrage he caused brought many more out to join the Slut Walk protests at the start of June. however as Sofie Buckland has shown on her blog he has an

angry Brigade communique #1

2011-06-14T11:09:00.004Z

from the AMP. download PDF here print and paste widely.

why George Galloway is a lying bastard

2011-06-02T22:37:00.001Z

OK, deep breath

2011-06-01T14:49:00.002Z

these six posts which make up the first part of Captain bollox's magnum opus. The second part(entitled the ideology of the british left) I think still needs tidying up, and I will post it soon. Don't be scared off by the length it is worth persevering with.

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 6: What I think needs to be done differently if Class War is to have it’s time again.

2011-06-01T14:31:00.005Z

1. Organisation: Class War would often have an ongoing battle with the odd member who would draw up some new complex structure for the organisation. These structures would be the sort that you expect for an organisation of thousands not 10’s. But I think these members where hitting on something that was lacking in Class War. Class War lacked an ideology or even a considered clear view of being a

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 5:We got a lot of stuff right when everybody was telling us we we’re wrong. We had balls of steel!

2011-06-01T14:17:00.005Z

London Class War was the first group to organise a protest and campaign against the Criminal Justice Bill. We tried to organise a protest against the state opening of parliament. They used some law from the 1860’s to give us some sort of standing arrest; they can only use that law within a mile of parliament. It goes back to the old Chartists days . How many groups get wacked with laws that were

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 4: Class War – if you ask me this is the high society!

2011-06-01T14:09:00.003Z

They say the night is at its darkness and coldest just before a chilly dawn breaks, lets’ hope a new dawn is in sight. I’m sick of the darkness and the cold is killing us off. They say the hardest flowers bloom (let’s hope it’s at least a 1000) in the hardest conditions. That’s Budapest apparently. It’s sad to hear of the demise of last incarnation of CW. At least it was never about the same old

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 3: The Robin Hood Thesis

2011-06-01T14:06:00.002Z

As we’re a story telling people and this is one of the great strengths of religions. Why the fuck do left wing groups think that their above the use of parable- because they lack the imagination would be the main reason.I’ve met many people who fit the little John description. I wish they had the courage to use their brains as well as brawn. And I’ve met a few Fry Tucks. But every fucker seems to

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 2: We ain’t knocked out- we’ve just been resting on the canvas.

2011-06-01T13:26:00.004Z

I’m going to do with this piece of writing what at university some cunts taught me to do with my lessons- reflective assessment. What worked, what didn’t and why and how to do it better. The political left is much more need of such techniques than my teaching practice of 6-11 year olds- but they are less stupid in the main- but class war members were always better than eleven year olds. Not much

Class struggle & Class War: the Resurrection. part 1: Pick yourself up and dust yourself down, we’re at the bottom now.

2011-06-01T12:58:00.004Z

first part of captain bollox's opus:Surely official nice regular politics does not have to come more of a sad joke for it to be clear we are living in a land of bullshit and lowest common denominator? Cameron is/was the end of an advertising agency. Before that in the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man was made Prime Minister. He certainly didn't have the wisdom of Odin. And maybe just as

Coming soon- more by Captain Bollox

2011-05-31T21:47:00.002Z

The recent announcement of Class War's demise has led to some interesting reminiscences of Class War, some by those who have other axes to grind Captain Bollox who was a member of CWF for a lot longer than I has written a reply to these, which includes his belief in the rightness of Class War and the continuing necessity of a Class War approach. I will be posting it here. it is however 33 pages

Long Live the Spanish Revolution!

2011-05-21T17:17:00.002Z

The democratic Revolutions that swept across the Middle East and North Africa were a response to the economic crisis, and the inability of the dictatorial elites of those countries to be able to respond to that crisis, and their determination to make the poorest of their society endure the pain of that crisis. Ever since the protests began the question has been when and how will they spread to

Worker Dandyism

2011-05-17T20:46:00.003Z

I might be too scruffy for this, but I dream of tweed and plus fours, I am a dandy trapped in a slobs clothes. I heartily endorse this, and agree that the revolution may not necessarily be televised but that is no reason for it not to be well dressed The Worker-Dandyist Manifesto 1. The Working Class is paramount. Our Dandyism is subordinate to our class. Dandyism outside of the class is of no

Brenda visits Dublin

2011-05-17T20:34:00.004Z

the Irish and british media and goverments have been constantly informing us that the people of Ireland welcome the Windsor woman's visitHere we see the masses who turned up to welcome the Queenlater a joyous crowd offered to take the Royal couple for a traditional Dublin supper (ham sarnies anyone?)Tomorrow Madge will be visiting Croke Park (yes THAT Croke Park!)which I am sure will go down

Nil out of two ain't bad

2011-05-10T17:10:00.002Z

having been a bit previous with Maggie, it seems that my report of the demise of Class War was also a little premature; Ian Bone reports from his blog:The Class War Federation has long ceased to have any meaningful political or organisational existence. However the merchandise in hooded tops and shirts has thrived,the finances kept in good order, the website maintained and the occasional paper

Class War is not Dead!

2011-05-09T21:25:00.002Z

Though it appears that Thatchers worm-addled, rotted corpse is still twitching enough to keep her out of the grave (for now), news has reached me that Class War has been wound up: The following statement was issued by Class War on 3rd May 2011.The Class War Federation is no more.Given our inability to continue to function at an organisational level and the huge amount of debt that the

theres a rumour that was spread around town...

2011-05-07T22:40:00.002Z

There are whispers that Thatcher has finally diedeven if these prove once again to be premature..

lolz

2011-05-06T10:27:00.002Z

on AV

2011-05-01T15:17:00.004Z

the political commentators all seem to be in agreement that ordinary people find AV too complex to understand and this is the reason that there appears to be little interest in next weeks referendum, and that the opinion polls which have shown a decided majority against changing the voting method reflect our collective stupidity and inbuilt conservativism. seems bollocks to me. AV is not hard

a blank cheque

2011-04-28T21:32:00.003Z

I won't be at Mayday this year, not because I am under bail conditions or about to have my door kicked in ( i hope), but because I am completely skint. Reports are sketchy but it appears that the numbers arrested today runs into the hundreds; amongst those rounded up in the pre-nuptual clampdown are Patrick Macroidan, Chris Knight, Camilla and Charlie Veitch. Alfie Meadows, the lad whose skull

Every little hurts...

2011-04-22T12:14:00.003Z

Last week the son of friend was sacked by Tescos after twice collapsing at work and needing paramedical assistance. On the day that the Company boasted of record profits he was handed his cards for 'repeated sickness'.There are seven Tescos In Reading,Two on the Oxford Road, and the company has just been refused permission to build another (though it will appeal and with the condem new rules on

no further comment necessary...

2011-04-08T12:01:00.001Z

at work today i saw this for sale:

Marxism and Anarchism

2011-04-07T12:25:00.002Z

Paul has directed our attention toward the 'theoretical journal' of the SWP; International Socialism, which has, amazingly published a article in defence of Anarchism by Lucien Van Der Walt, co-author of the newly published Black Flame: the Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism This is a very useful piece and considerably better than the woeful article in this weeks Socialist

a minor redesign

2011-04-02T19:19:00.003Z

When one has nothing interesting to say, its always a good idea to have a fiddle with the controls on blogger without having any idea what each one does...Actually I am quite pleased with the outcome.

table for two?

2011-03-30T08:23:00.002Z

from the admirable Anarchist media project.

undercover anarchist- Silver Bullet

2011-03-27T15:34:00.003Z

For all our comrades who are keeping their heads down at the moment.

Some Thoughts On The Stop The War Coalition’s “10 Reasons To Say No To Western Intervention In Libya”.

2011-03-21T17:10:00.004Z

By Stan Cullen Granttaken with thanks from the excellent Norfolk unaligned community action websitehttp://norfolknonaligned.wordpress.com/Some thoughts for discussion by Stan on yesterdays statement by the Stop The War Coalition on international involvement in Libya. The ‘left’ in the UK once again deem themselves to know what’s best for the people in foreign lands. There’s something slightly ‘

this is not the demo I was looking for...

2011-03-21T14:50:00.002Z

Saturday morning I finished my night shift and caught the bus into the town to join the anti EDL protest. When I arrived at the meeting point I discovered that, due to the cancellation of the birmingham demo, instead of the 20-30 turn out of Berkshire Division which were expected, some two hundred or so EDLers from all over the South had come to the town.The 30 or so local activists gathered in

Big Butts and little buts (gratuitous rap video levered into a post on Anti Imperialism)

2011-03-19T14:49:00.004Z

Now that the UN have eventually finished the internable to and thro' horsetrading (that made me wonder whether a 'no fly zone' would be established before, or after, Gaddaffi had turned Benghazi into a Charnel house), the left can heave a collective sigh of relief. Having for a brief period been in the the uncomfortable position of having to been seen supporting real life revolutions, as opposed

Smiley Culture- Yet another dies at the hands of the police

2011-03-15T22:58:00.004Z

Rest in Peace. whats the betting that no copper is ever held to account for this?

Marinus van der Lubbe: nazi terror and stalinist slander

2011-03-11T15:07:00.003Z

In honour of Marinus Van Der Lubbe, anti fascist.This article from last weeks Weekly Worker deserves to be more widely read: Lies that refuse to be buriedOn the anniversary of the 1933 Reichstag fire, Bob Potter looks back at the trial of Marinus van der Lubbe and Georgi DimitrovWatching a history programme on TV’s digital channels can be both irritating and frustrating. For me, a repeat

there is nothing between us but a river of blood

2011-02-24T15:01:00.005Z

the Bizarre Socialist unity Blog is at it again; from defending the Butchers of Tianamen Square and delighting in the murderous antics of Islamists, to ignoring repression and maligning human rights campaigners who dare to criticise any so-called 'anti-imperialist' dictatorship, and even wallowing in the bigotry of all and every religious bigot on Earth (except, of course Jews!), that arch crony

World leaders condemn Gaddafi...

2011-02-21T22:04:00.002Z

cock

2011-02-19T14:54:00.001Z

There are no shortcuts

2011-02-19T14:15:00.004Z

There is a bit of an internet flutter at the moment amongst activists. Inspired by the example of the Arab revolutionary movements and determined that opposition to the cuts will not become yet another succession of A to B processions to listen to Tony Benn, there is a campaign to stay on in Hyde park to act as a focus for resistance. I think that, laudable as it sounds, this is actually a really

Pope takes Mass...

2011-02-09T20:45:00.003Z

some bears in a wood.....The latest research from the Bureau details for the first time the full extent of Square Mile donations given to the Tories. It reveals that the percentage of donations from companies and individuals connected to the financial services industry has now reached more than half.Last year City money made up 50.8% of all Conservative Party donations, a leap from 25% five

children: a lifestyle choice?

2011-02-09T20:28:00.002Z

On ITV this morning the odious Katie Hopkins railed against parents who complained at the rapid increase in chilodcare costs- "Children are an investment for your future, one makes a choice, one can have an Austin Martin or a baby, one can't always have both."Let it be clear, I love my children dearly. But nobody ever told me 19 years ago that there was a choice.

From The streets of Petrograd to the squares of Cairo

2011-01-29T12:22:00.005Z

In his History of the Russian revolution Leon Trotsky described the how in February 1917, when the police were unable to cope with rising wave of protests, the cossacks were called onto the streets, Trotsky described how when the protesters approached the army lines rather than charge them down the soldiers allowed the demonstrators to squeeze under the bellies of the cavalry horses and continue

Gaza Youth Manifesto

2011-01-05T07:03:00.003Z

I may be the last anarchist to reproduce this, but it deserves repeating.Fuck Hamas. Fuck Israel. Fuck Fatah. Fuck UN. Fuck UNWRA. Fuck USA! We, the youth in Gaza, are so fed up with Israel, Hamas, the occupation, the violations of human rights and the indifference of the international community! We want to scream and break this wall of silence, injustice and indifference like the Israeli F16’s

the origins of Mosley's Anti Semitism

2011-01-02T06:41:00.002Z

In both popular consciousness and memory by far the most dramatic and defining feature of Britain’s Fascist movement of the 1930s was the series of deliberately provocative marches which the BUF attempted to mount through the heart of Britain’s largest Jewish community in London’s East End. The image of Mosley in his black shirt, accompanied by ranks of paramilitary storm troops with marching

No shit, Sherlock!

2010-12-22T18:52:00.002Z

at the insistence of Simon I believe that it should be mentioned that I am no longer a member of the Labour Party.I have previously explained why I joined in the first place; Labour's defeat in the election wiped out that reason, however I did not leave, reasoning that there were grounds to believe that opposition to the condems might be found from within Labour; that proved to be an illusion. I

scaring the horses

2010-12-10T14:27:00.004Z

OH! pleasant exercise of hope and joy! For mighty were the auxiliars which then stood Upon our side, we who were strong in love! Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven!--Oh! times, In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways Of custom, law, and statute, took at once The attraction of a

Muriel Morris is our friend, is our friend.. she makes sarnies

2010-12-08T18:58:00.002Z

hats off to Muriel Morris, who has single handed put off the streets and into the kharzi 50 of Birmingham police's finest porkies.as the PA reports:A pensioner whose sandwiches poisoned 47 police officers has been given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to obey a one-month night-time curfew.Food safety officials said 70-year-old Muriel Morris received a four-month jail term, suspended for a

Fitwatch 1 MET 0

2010-11-17T15:31:00.002Z

Fitwatch is back, better and secure from arbitary state repression check it out here: http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/

Lifeform to wed lifeform

2010-11-16T19:39:00.002Z

I genuinley believed that I had matured, that long gone were the days when I proudly wore my 'Noddy marries big ears' badge and laughed at the 'Parasite marries Scrounger' headlines; after all, decades have passed, William actually seems to be doing a job ( although having Granny as his boss probably means never having to worry about being late in on a Monday). Kate Middleton even comes into the

Stop the Internet repression- defend Fitwatch

2010-11-16T16:40:00.001Z

This is the piece which led to the Fitwatch website being suspended – please circulate spartacus style (lifted from jonnyvoid and available everywhere;-))The remarkable and brilliant student action at Millbank has produced some predictable frothing at the mouth from the establishment and right wing press. Cameron has called for the ‘full weight of the law’ to fall on those who had caused tens of

Honouring the dead, pissing on the living

2010-11-15T19:05:00.002Z

Yesterday we went up to Brock Barracks to take part in the Remembrance Service. Among the local military and civic groups laying wreaths at the monument were two shady types in dark suits: Rob Wilson MP and Alok Sharma MP- the Conservative MPs for Reading East and West Respectively. Whilst they made show of paying their respects for the dead of Britains wars, they and the Government

We have no demands to make of NUS president Aaron Porter except to FOAD. Behold your future executioners.

2010-11-15T12:45:00.002Z

A guest post from Capt. BollocksThe demonstration against the government cuts to education and the raising of the cap on student fees jointly organised by the NUS and lecturer’s unions (UCU) on November 10th lead news reports that day and many following days.The demonstration was officially a response just to the attacks on higher learning in England and Wales. It has gained a wider significance

redemanding the impossible!

2010-11-13T16:29:00.003Z

over the past year or so I have somewhat drifted into the realms of respectability and possiblism, allowing my distaste for Trotskyism and dispair at the collapse of the Left to lead me into accepting in some measure the political perspectives of Reformism (even, as I am sure comrades will be sure of constantly reminding me for years to come, taking up a Labour Party Card in the run up to the

the kids are alright

2010-11-11T18:39:00.000Z

Make the tory/lib Cunts fear!Yesterdays domonstration was fantastic and have the lie to those who would write off todays young people as unpolitical and apathetic. the university and FE students who demolished the tory HQ instinctively understood the only way to stop the coalitions campaign of cuts and attacks on our class- make them Understand that every cut every criminalisation of the poor

TORY HQ RIOT : REPORT FROM CLASS WAR STUDENTS

2010-11-11T17:10:00.003Z

as a layabout post graduate I was variously otherwise employed yesterday and so once again missed out on a decent demonstration and so I have ripped the following shamelessly from Ian Bones blog:TORY HQ RIOT : REPORT FROM CLASS WAR STUDENTSI’ll be putting my own account of the day up later but in the meantime here’s a report from Leeds Class War students:‘Was good to see you on the demo today,

One day, all demonstrations will be like this...

2010-11-10T18:17:00.003Z

now that is the way to do it

Cameron redesigns the Royal Navys flag

2010-10-19T13:47:00.002Z

Versions of the white ensign have been flown by the ships of the Royal navy since the early 17th century.However the new strategic defence review has announced a new and cost cutting version which will correctly reflect the Condem Naval strategy for the next ten years

fighting back

2010-10-16T20:15:00.004Z

perhaps it is my age, but try as I might I cannot stand the thought of sitting through hours of political bullshit meetings. If opposing and fighting back against this slimeball government means having to listen to the would be Commissars and waannabe carreerists tossing themselves into verbal orgasm a the thought of at last having an audience again (since the last one melted away buried under a

The Torys are back. Let the mask drop!

2010-10-07T17:35:00.002Z

the sides of cop cars have in recent years become emblazoned with mission statements, usually crouched in incomprehensible, corporate, bollockeese.in the thames valley for instance the police cars have for a number of years had "Thames Valley Police: Reducing crime disorder and fear" stencilled on them. However it appears that the arrival of a Tory government the necessity for bland sloganeering

I Love the Railway benefit Fund

2010-09-24T14:46:00.001Z

the lovely people at the Railway benefit fund have agreed to pledge me enough money to allow me to undertake my first module of my masters. Now to start saving for the second!!

please give me all your money

2010-09-13T13:58:00.003Z

I am pleased to repoprt that I have been offered a place at Reading University to study for a MRes in Medieval Studies. The downside is that for some unknown reason there is not a huge amount of funding available for budding medievalists.I therefore need to find the money to pay my fees.I am planning to study part time. This will enable me to meet my families living expenses whilst I am studying,

SWP- Hilter, "not all bad"

2010-08-29T06:33:00.002Z

I am getting better, I no longer wait, baited breath, for Wednesday morning when I can read the latest ramblings of Socialist Worker for more evidence of the demise of senile Trotskyism into its final dotage.I am indebted therfore to Ian Bone for flagging up the latest triumphant Low in a catalogue of all time lows from the SWP. In an article attacking the sacrifice and bravery of those who

A world to win? An open invitation.

2010-08-22T13:38:00.004Z

Thinking about the post before last, it occurred to me that I had not heard anyone from the Left actually talk about what it is that they were fighting for. we know plenty about what we are against, but nothing at all about what would replace the present state of affairs if the Left was to take power. I am of the opinion that this is one of the problems that confronts the Left; it has become a

"Socialism in the 21st Century." sic.

2010-07-08T18:03:00.001Z

An old mate has sent me this:On Tuesday 6th July the day after Marxism 2010 finished, four supporters of the IS Tendency (a man and three women) walked into a tube station near the event venue. One was wearing a Marxism 2010 tee-shirt, another carrying a Sociailst Worker poster, the other two were more anonymous. One of the women attempted to fare dodge by doubling through the barrier. The

Finding something worth fighting for is harder than finding something to fight against

2010-07-07T18:18:00.000Z

Throughout the many years that I have spent ‘on the left’ I held on to a, sometimes shifting, vision of the type of society that I wanted to see achieved through our collective efforts. I remained convinced that Marx was correct when he said that the working class would bring about a socialist society, not through the preaching of pious sermons and abstract principles, but because socialism would

'aving a laff? No, not really.

2010-06-23T17:27:00.002Z

this weeks socialist worker is trying to drum up support for it's weekend summer school, Marxism (sic), In doing so they interview two (pretty obscure) stand up comedians who are on the slate for 'the entertainment'. The first Steve Parry is, we are breathlessly informed: "a stand up comedian and writes for the Frank Skinner Show. He has written for Man Stroke Woman, Dead Ringers and The Morning

Better Late than never

2010-06-23T17:22:00.002Z

Well done England. Played football like you meant it.Germany next?

Condem: can't even make the trains run on time!

2010-06-19T13:26:00.002Z

The first Tory MP to try and top himself has made a complete bollocks of it. Try harder next time!

shouldering responsibility

2010-06-19T11:26:00.002Z

after the ultra- slow- slow- motion- car- crash- mascarading- as- a- football- game which was England vs. Algeria the blame game and recriminations are sure to follow. In reality however I think it is time that resposnibility is acknowledged where it truly lies: With me. Well in truth, all of us.We are like the woman who appears on Jeremy Kyle; she knows that he uses drugs, sleeps around steals

flotilla fancies

2010-06-05T18:44:00.002Z

A week after the tragic events which followed the interception of the Gaza Aid flotilla by the Israeli military, here are some thoughts. I have restrained myself from becoming embroiled in the discussions which immediately followed the killings of the activists by the Israeli commandoes; so much has become merely the entrenchment of existing positions made even more strident and more violent by

one Laws for the rich....

2010-05-30T08:08:00.002Z

The usual suspects of ConDem politicians and sycophantic journalists rush to assure us of the Good Nature and Honest Intent of David Laws, the arch slasher of the coalition, who we are earnestly informed should not be made to suffer too long for his 'attempt to keep his personal relationship a secret', and that the £40,000 he falsely claimed was not a great deal of money and far less than he

sWpANKERS!

2010-05-23T07:14:00.003Z

Watching the BBC footage of the lunatic disruption by the SWP of the ACAS talks between BA and UNITE my wife noted that "even the Anarchists were never so stupid". she is quite right, not even in the most fevered, acid fuelled, nightmares of Ian Bone and Chris Knight could such a cackhanded, wrongheaded, and completely counterproductive stunt have been imagined! the cynical and elitist hijacking

red shirts and red herrings

2010-05-18T11:39:00.002Z

Amid the gloom and foreboding surrounding the Condem victory in Britain, it is understandable that some might look far afield where exciting revolts and movements might be found to give those awaiting the firm hand of tory governance some vicarious joy. The most visible and misunderstood of these foreign rebellions is the redshirts of Thailand, where the fact that the protesters are dress in RED

yellow fucking tories

2010-05-12T16:43:00.003Z

Vote liberal, you get Tories. WHAT PART OF THIS DIDN'T YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND? At least now the choice is clear, the ConDems will cut and slash and Labour will fight them.

A shabby deal behind closed doors and fuck the landed Gentry!

2010-05-09T16:12:00.004Z

Nick Clegg Makes his position knownas the two public school toffs cobble a stitch up between them, nobody should be in any doubts that this has bugger all to do with democracy. the old etonian and the old Westminsterian are carving up the spoils before toasting a muffin between the buttocks of the british people. Clegg made much during the campaign when the polls seemed to promise him the

Don't let them back in

2010-05-05T10:34:00.001Z

There is only one way to Stop the Toffs Vote Labour

an occasional update

2010-04-19T18:22:00.005Z

I am painfully aware that I am not, when it comes to the frequency of my posts, a electronic samuel pepys, just recently I have had to complete my dissertation and am in the middle of revision for my finals, We are also fostering a succession of short-term emergency placement kids, which take up much of the available blogging time (to say nothing of the sitting around staring at the telly and

never acceptable

2010-02-16T16:45:00.001Z

the trotskyists can't even achieve cult status

2010-02-08T21:05:00.002Z

Those of us who have been through the mill of trotskyite politics have argued that It resembles more of a series of religious cults than a political movement. This belief is usually treated as little more than an insult in the knockabout world of interweb political banter. However, it appears that some enterprising comrades at the socialist party (thats the old Militant Tendency, now outside

Heres to you, Mrs Robinson.

2010-01-09T19:27:00.003Z

are you willing to discuss an alteration to the marching route down the Garvaghy road or are you trying to seduce me?when the Good Friday agreement was first implemented there were elements not just within the ranks of die hard republicanism who were of the opinion that the decades long struggle for a united Ireland had been abandoned by Provisional Sinn Fein/PIRA. Recent developments should

An American gets it

2010-01-07T17:27:00.002Z

....Why? Because it is exploitation, not discrimination, that is the primary producer of inequality today. It is neoliberalism, not racism or sexism (or homophobia or ageism) that creates the inequalities that matter most in American society; racism and sexism are just sorting devices. In fact, one of the great discoveries of neoliberalism is that they are not very efficient sorting devices,

Blimey thats a turn up...

2010-01-06T13:25:00.002Z

...after 25 years I have rejoined the labour party.not from any matter of principle, I am as convinced as ever that there is no state road to socialism, whether revolutionary(bolshevik) nor reformist (labour). I am however painfully aware of the threat of a tory victory at the next election. The past 13 years Labour in government have done many things that I have found execrable, and yet have

long live the Iranian revolution

2009-12-28T09:49:00.002Z

the streets of Terhan have run red with the blood of the people for too long. the Iranians will not accept their oppression anymore. long live the Iranian revolution!let us hope that kHameni and his thugs get the same christmas present as Caecescu got in 1989

some thoughts on the trotmaggedon

2009-12-23T15:36:00.002Z

martin smith - tight trousers, no balls.whilst the key board is working again, (at the moment my lap top writes something lk his al e ime). I think that it would be nice to write a few words about the current crisis wrackng the "premier" trotskyite franchise in the UK, the SWP.As readers of this blg may remember, I spent 20 years a member of this cult, and although I am a lot better now I still

its Christmas!- lets do some bishop bashing

2009-12-23T12:14:00.003Z

'Tis the season of goodwill and the journalists are more pissed and lazy than they are normally. in the search of a good filler for their newspapers and programmes they reach for that mainstay at times of vaguely religious festivals of finding a priest making some bollox argument to fill the airwaves with manufactured outrage and moral hypocrisy. step forward the vicar of st Lawrence and st Hilda

How typical were the attitudes of the Gunpowder Plotters of English Catholics at the time?

2009-12-23T09:40:00.001Z

Before attempting to ask how typical were the Gunpowder plotters of English Catholics at the start of the 17th century one must first be clear who was a Catholic at that time; for by the time that James I, and VI, had become king in 1603 it had become impossible to talk about a single English Catholic community. The divisions that had grown within English Catholicism between the traditionalist,

these three posts

2009-12-22T19:44:00.002Z

These three posts are essays I have written recently and am pleased with, any, and all, comments and criticisms are of course welcome. they are all in various ways concerned with the way in the politics of medieval, and early modern, religious movements have been interpreted by modern historians. I have tried to overcome the habit of historians, whether marxist or otherwise, who have imposed

2009-12-22T19:22:00.001Z

"The problem of Heresy was a creation of a developing, empire-building Church. Discuss.The generally accepted model of the development of the medieval church describes how the reforms, which were began by Gregory VII and continued by his successors, liberated the church from the control of local princes and in the process amassed such earthly wealth and temporal power in the hands of the church

2009-12-22T19:17:00.001Z

Why were lepers excluded from medieval society?Medieval European society was an extremely fragile one; unable neither to understand nor to protect itself in any significant way from the effects of either natural disaster or disease, and constantly under threat from the random violence of that society's own warrior elite. This awareness of the fragility of medieval society lent impetus to the

No Mr Blog, I expect you to die.

2009-12-06T21:04:00.004Z

I notice that since I recomended people read the MATblog rather than have to post anything myself it has died on it's feet. I am sure that this now means I have the power to kill blogs with a single glance. MWAAAAHAHAHA!

I am not in at the moment

2009-10-26T20:23:00.002Z

I am aware that not much has been going on here recently. I hope that I will add more comments soon. In the meantime I recomend the blog meanwhile at the bar which says much of what I would, but both more wittily and more intelligently.

Andy Abel 1962- 2009

2009-08-18T20:09:00.002Z

through the pages of Socialist worker I have just learned of the shocking and sudden death of my friend and comrade Andy Able. Andy was a diamond, a true socialist who despite his life long loyalty to the SWP retained a true belief in the vitality of a socialist vision which transcended narrow party loyalty. He was a real friend who would stick by his friends and comrades no matter what.

Shiver me Timbers!!

2009-08-12T17:49:00.002Z

Interpol are on the alert and the Russian Navy have been mobilised to try to find out the whereabouts of a freighter carrying a Million pounds worth of wood from the Baltic to North Africa. It is believed that the ship has been boarded and taken over by pirates. The last sighting of the ship was when it entered the English Channel.

14 words

2009-08-12T07:58:00.002Z

at the heart of modern Nazi politics are the 'fourteen words'; "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."Originally coined by the paedophile American Nazi, David Lane, the slogan is repeated again and again in neo nazi and white power propaganda.What it means in practice has been less clear until now.The ending of a court order has revealed that the scum who

Give Up Anti Fascism

2009-08-09T18:03:00.002Z

I really wish that I wrote this, instead it was written by a friend of mine and will be appearing in the new edition of Red Pepper: Give Up Anti-FascismThe election of two BNP MEPs in the European elections has propelled the party onto the national stage and initiated a debate about why they’re achieving historically unprecedented results (or in some cases, even whether they are doing so), what

why has marxism had only limited influence in Britain?

2009-06-27T20:45:00.002Z