Class War

This article is about the organisation and newspaper. For the general concept, see Class war (disambiguation).

Class War is an anarchist group^[1][2] and newspaper established by Ian Bone and others in 1983^[3] in the United Kingdom. An incarnation of Class War was briefly registered as a political party for the purposes of fighting the 2015 United Kingdom general election.

Class War protest at Downing Street, 2016

Events

In the 1980s, Class War organised a number of "Bash The Rich" demonstrations, in which supporters were invited to march through and disrupt wealthier areas of London such as Kensington, and Henley-on-Thames, bearing banners and placards with slogans such as "Behold your future executioners!"^[4]

A third Bash the Rich event, scheduled to march through Hampstead, in 1985 was largely prevented by a heavy police presence and was acknowledged by Class War to have been a failure. This event was seen by many as a major setback for the group and many members left to form other groups or drifted away.^[5]

2010s onwards

Class War at the Anti Austerity demonstration, London, June 2015

In the 2010s, Ian Bone revived Class War as a political party.^[6] Their activities included a weekly protest about "poor doors" outside One Commercial Street in Aldgate, with Action East End and Freedom News.^[7] These protests ended in partial victory in November 2014.^[8][9] Group member Lisa McKenzie was found not guilty under joint enterprise for causing criminal damage.^[10]

In the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Class War stood seven candidates which received a total of 526 votes. The party was voluntarily deregistered with the electoral commission in July 2015.^[11]