Class war hotting up in UK

THE class war is hotting up in the UK, reports anarchist blogger Ian Bone.

His site features a new poster for an 'Occupy Hester' action against Stepehen Hester, the fat cat banker and fox-hunting toff, who is holding an open day at his Oxfordshire country estate, Broughton Grange, on April 29.

Meanwhile, hunt opponents have successfully stopped a group of hunters from Eton College, number one school for the offspring of the rich elite, from killing any wildlife.

Says the report: "Given what the majority of people end up going into later in life after their Eton education, the kids you see in these photos are likely to be the MPs, politicians, bankers or stockbrokers of tomorrow.

"And here they are gearing up to chase a defenceless creature around the countryside. Later they could be picking on  the vulnerable in their new roles as MPs etc. It’s all a good day of sport to them."

Comment Bone: "The class war is hotting up. From Broughton Grange to Eton - when they look out of their windows, we'll be there!" 

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EDL exposed as puppets of the 1%

THE true nature and purpose of the English Defence League is gradually emerging, as the far right street movement struggles to maintain any momentum.

It originally claimed to be virtually apolitical, with the sole aim of countering what it described as the threat of 'Islamic extremism' in the UK.

However, it has recently shown its true colours by vehement animosity towards trade unionists and threats to attack Occupy activists in various cities.

A further dent to its phoney 'working class' credentials has now been made by an investigative report in The Sunday Times exposing some of the wealthy individuals running the show behind the scenes.

These include property tycoon Ann Marchini, from upmarket Highgate in north London, and  Alan Ayling, a former director of an investment fund.

Ayling, pictured above, uses the pseudonym Alan Lake in EDL circles.

It is rather convenient that at a time when opposition to neoliberal rule is on the rise, and the state is sensitive to the possible knock-on effects of overt police violence against dissidents, a ready-made Freikorps-style army is available to do the 1%'s dirty work on the streets.  

There still remains much more to be exposed about the EDL and its murky role in contemporary British politics.

French workers hold bosses hostage

WORKERS at a French factory have held two company bosses hostage for two days in protest at its forthcoming closure.

The 86 rebels at the Essex copper wire plant in Mâcon, in Saône-et-Loire, have also threatened to throw its products and equipment into the river Saône.

They are demanding a pay-off of 120,000 Euros for each member of staff, reports Europe1.

Christian Estrosi, industry minister, is said to be "deeply shocked" by the latest in a string of militant actions against the capitalist system in France.

Greek-style unrest for the UK?

BRITAIN will be hit by waves of "Greek-style unrest" if a Tory or Labour government narrowly wins the election and then tries to push through draconian spending cuts, Nick Clegg has warned.

In an interview with the Observer, the Liberal Democrat leader says he fears "serious social strife" would break out on the streets if a government with limited support at the election on 6 May then raised taxes, laid off public-sector workers and froze wages.

"Imagine the Conservatives go home and get an absolute majority, on 25% of the eligible votes," Clegg said. "They then turn around in the next week or two and say we're going to chuck up VAT to 20%, we're going to start cutting teachers, cutting police and the wage bill in the public sector. I think if you're not careful in that situation… you'd get Greek-style unrest. And so my warning to people who think the old politics still works, is be careful for what you wish for."

In his own constituency city of Sheffield, where there are no Conservative MPs or councillors, and a high proportion of public-sector workers, he fears a ferocious backlash against potential Tory cuts.

"Suddenly these people will be told by a government that has no legitimacy [in the area] in their eyes that this government is going to slash and burn, having promised them something else."

Clegg's fears may have been prompted by the 20th anniversary celebrations of the 1990 Poll Tax riots across the UK (see photo), which spelled the end for his heroine Margaret Thatcher.

Recalled anarchist group Class War earlier this year: "A vast number of confrontations between the people, and the police and government took place all around the UK, building momentum towards the large demonstration planned.

"Class War came to prominence because of the riot in Trafalgar Square. The 1990 uprisings against the Poll Tax seared like wildfire outside every council chamber and Shire Hall culminating in that glorious carnival of insurrection at Trafalgar Square when 10000 riotous working class heroes were cheered on by another 300000 as they torched buildings, fought cops with scaffolding poles and brought the reality of class war to the cosseted rich of the City and West End.

"This was no drunken mob, this was MASS CLASS WAR. As the filth forced Trafalgar Square clear, the mobs went in different directions. East to the plush arcades of Covent Garden, North to the expensive shopping areas of Regent Street, West to Leicester Square. All with the same motive, to show the rich scum exactly what we think of them and what they can expect more of in the future."