Counterfire (group)

Counterfire was launched on International Women’s Day in 2010, following a split from the Socialist Workers Party.{{Cite web|last=Unknown|date=2010-02-16|title=Solomon's Mindfield: Why we are resigning from SWP: an open letter|url=http://solomonsmindfield.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-we-are-resigning-from-swp-open.html|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Solomon's Mindfield}} Counterfire has put emphasis on participation in social movements,{{Cite web|title=United front and trade union work|url=https://www.counterfire.org/counterfire-conference-2013/16224-counterfire-conference-2013-united-front-and-trade-union-work|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Counterfire|language=en-gb}} notably the Coalition of Resistance, the People’s Assembly Against Austerity and Stop the War Coalition.

A number of Counterfire members, including Lindsey German, John Rees and Chris Nineham, have played prominent roles in the Stop the War Coalition, both before and after the formation of Counterfire.{{Cite web|title=Stop the War Patrons, Officers and Steering Committee|url=https://www.stopwar.org.uk/stop-the-war-patrons-officers-and-steering-committee/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Stop the War|language=en}} In 2010, Counterfire was instrumental in establishing a new campaigning organisation, Coalition of Resistance, to oppose the Conservative-led government’s austerity programme, following a call by Tony Benn.{{Cite web|date=2010-08-04|title=The time to organise resistance is now {{!}} Tony Benn and 73 others|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/04/time-to-organise-resistance-now|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}} In 2013, this was supplanted by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, which Counterfire has continued to actively promote.{{Cite web|author=Guardian Staff|date=2013-02-05|title=Letters: People's Assembly Against Austerity|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/feb/05/people-assembly-against-austerity|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2013-06-22|title=People's Assembly hears union leaders promise anti-cuts action|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23016076|access-date=2021-10-27}}

Counterfire was supportive of the Arab spring uprisings in 2011.{{Cite web|title=How the Egyptian Revolution unfolded: an eyewitness account|url=https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/22029-how-the-egyptian-revolution-unfolded-an-eyewitness-account|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Counterfire|language=en-gb}} As part of the Stop the War Coalition, it opposed subsequent military interventions involving the UK in Libya{{Citation|title=Jeremy Corbyn - Emergency Protest - Stop the Bombing of Libya Now! - Stop the War Coalition 20.03.11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9WL79t0P-4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/s9WL79t0P-4 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-27}}{{cbignore}} and Syria.{{Cite web|last=Blundy|first=Rachel|date=2015-12-01|title=Stop the War demonstrators protest against Syria air strikes|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/syria-protest-stop-the-war-demonstrators-descend-on-london-in-march-ahead-of-mps-air-strike-vote-a3127491.html|access-date=2021-10-27|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}}

Between 2012 and 2013, Counterfire ran a left-wing café in London called Firebox, where it hosted political events aimed at building socialist ideas.{{Cite web|date=2012-10-21|title=The return of leftwing cafe culture|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2012/oct/21/return-leftwing-cafe-culture|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Landin|first=Conrad|date=2013-03-21|title=Baristas of the world unite|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/firebox-cafe-london-cuts|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Prospect Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811095857/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/firebox-cafe-london-cuts |archive-date=2017-08-11 }} It also organised political theory and organising events including citizen activism day schools.{{Cite web|date=2012-11-07|title=The class teaching young people to find their inner activist|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/nov/07/class-young-people-political-activism|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Counterfire was strongly supportive of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party (2015–19) but maintained an independent organisation and publications, rather than joining the Labour Party.{{Cite web|title=Corbyn is in the leadership race – don't just celebrate, organise!|url=https://www.counterfire.org/articles/analysis/17862-corbyn-is-in-the-leadership-race-don-t-just-celebrate-organise|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Counterfire|language=en-gb}} The organisation defended Corbyn against accusations of antisemitism and in 2018 opposed the Labour Party national executive’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, arguing that it was part of the weaponising of antisemitism for political ends.{{Cite web|title=Defend Jeremy Corbyn: time to fight back - Counterfire statement|url=https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/19788-defend-jeremy-corbyn-time-to-fight-back-counterfire-statement|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Counterfire|language=en-gb}}

In 2014, Counterfire advocated voting Yes in the referendum on Scottish independence{{Cite web|title=No excuse for no|url=https://www.counterfire.org/articles/opinion/17407-scottish-independence-referendum-no-excuse-for-no|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Counterfire|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=2017-03-22|title=The English left should stay out of the Scottish independence debate|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/blog/2017/03/22/the-english-left-should-stay-out-of-the-scottish-independence-debate/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Politics.co.uk|language=en-US}} and supported the left-wing Radical Independence Campaign.{{Cite news|date=2014-11-22|title=Radical Independence Campaign launches 'People's Vow'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30151363|access-date=2021-10-27}}

In 2016, the organisation argued for voting Leave in the referendum on UK membership of the European Union on a socialist, democratic and anti-racist basis.{{Cite web|last=Mohdin|first=Aamna|title=The loudest supporters of Brexit are on the right, but plenty on the left want to leave, too|url=https://qz.com/708979/the-loudest-supporters-of-brexit-are-on-the-right-but-plenty-on-the-left-want-to-leave-too/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Quartz|date=21 June 2016 |language=en}}

At the People’s Assembly Against Austerity protest outside the Conservative Party Conference in 2017,{{Cite web|last1=Lister|first1=Sam|last2=Bloom|first2=Dan|date=2017-10-01|title=30,000 furious protesters just parked their tanks on Theresa May's lawn|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/30000-furious-protesters-just-parked-11270475|access-date=2021-10-27|website=mirror|language=en}} Counterfire activist Shabbir Lakha confronted Jacob-Rees Mogg, who was then being touted as a potential next leader of the party, over his support for austerity.{{Cite news|title=Rees-Mogg takes on protesters at Tory event|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-41478755|access-date=2021-10-27}}{{Cite web|date=2017-10-12|title=Why I had to confront Jacob Rees-Mogg, and speak the truth about austerity {{!}} Shabbir Lakha|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/12/jacob-rees-mogg-austerity-tory-policy|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Counterfire members in the Stop the War Coalition and People’s Assembly Against Austerity played prominent roles in organising the demonstration against Donald Trump’s State Visit to the UK in 2019 where an estimated 250,000 people marched through London against the US President.{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Chloe Chaplain, Sophie|date=2018-07-13|title=Nearly 250,000 activists take to London streets to protest Trump visit|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/donald-trump-london-protest-news-nearly-250-000-protesters-march-against-president-s-visit-a3886941.html|access-date=2021-10-27|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Lakha|first=Shabbir|date=2019-06-03|title=I'm organising the anti-Trump protests as the UK is no place for his hate|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/03/im-organising-anti-trump-protests-uk-no-place-hateful-politics-9786417/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Metro|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Freytas-Tamura|first=Kimiko de|date=2018-07-09|title=Where Trump Goes in Britain, Protesters Will Follow|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/world/europe/trump-uk-protests.html|access-date=2021-10-27|issn=0362-4331}}

Counterfire supported the Clapham Common vigil for Sarah Everard in March 2021, where they interviewed Patsy Stevenson after she was aggressively arrested by the Metropolitan Police.{{Cite web|last=O'Reilly|first=Luke|date=2021-03-14|title=Woman arrested at Sarah Everard vigil hits out at 'disgraceful' police|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sarah-everard-vigil-woman-arrested-police-b924054.html|access-date=2021-10-27|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Karim|first=Fariha|title=Sarah Everard vigil: I was arrested for standing there, says Patsy Stevenson|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/sarah-everard-vigil-arrest-interview-8tkn50dgs|access-date=2021-10-27|issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-14|title=Woman pinned to ground at Clapham vigil says policing was 'disgraceful'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/14/woman-pinned-ground-clapham-vigil-policing-disgraceful-sarah-everard|access-date=2021-10-27|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Counterfire publishes a free monthly newspaper as well as two weekly email bulletins: Lindsey German’s Weekly Briefing and News from the Frontline. Through its publishing imprint, Counterfire has produced several books:

• {{Cite book|last=Rees|first=John|title=Strategy and Tactics: How the Left Can Organise to Transform Society|publisher=Counterfire|year=2010|isbn=978-1907899003}}
• {{Cite book|last=Nineham|first=Chris|title=Capitalism and Class Consciousness: The Ideas of Georg Lukacs|publisher=Counterfire|year=2010|isbn=978-1907899010}}
• {{Cite book|last=Rees|first=John|title=The ABC of Socialism|publisher=Counterfire|year=2014|isbn=978-1907899034}}
• {{Cite book|last=German|first=Lindsey|title=Class: Wealth and power in neoliberal Britain|publisher=Counterfire|year=2016|isbn=978-1907899058}}
• {{Cite book|last1=German|first1=Lindsey|title=Marx for Today|last2=Nineham|first2=Chris|last3=Meadway|first3=James|last4=Connelly|first4=Katherine|publisher=Counterfire|year=2015|isbn=978-1907899041}}
• {{Cite book|last1=Connelly|first1=Katherine|title=Marxism and Women's Liberation|last2=Graham-Leigh|first2=Elaine|last3=Ismail|first3=Feyzi|last4=German|first4=Lindsey|publisher=Counterfire|year=2016|isbn=978-1907899065}}
• {{Cite book|last=Alexander|first=Dominic|title=The Limits of Keynesianism|publisher=Counterfire|year=2018|isbn=978-1907899089}}
• {{Cite book|last=Rees|first=John|title=The Corbyn Project: Dreams and Dangers|publisher=Counterfire|year=2019|isbn=978-1907899096}}
• {{Cite book|last=German|first=Lindsey|title=As It Happened: Briefings from two years of turmoil 2017-2019|publisher=Counterfire|year=2020|isbn=978-1907899102}}
• {{Cite book|last=Graham-Leigh|first=Elaine|title=Marx and the Climate Crisis|publisher=Counterfire|year=2020|isbn=978-1907899119}}
• {{Cite book|last=Alexander|first=Dominic|title=Trotsky in the Bronze Age: Why technology alone does not change society|publisher=Counterfire|year=2020|isbn=978-1907899126}}
• {{Cite book|title=Socialist Explainers: Short answers to big questions|publisher=Counterfire|year=2021|isbn=978-1907899133|editor-last=Graham-Leigh|editor-first=Elaine}}

• [https://www.counterfire.org/ Counterfire]

Category:2010 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Far-left political parties in the United Kingdom

Category:Trotskyist organisations in the United Kingdom