Anarchy in the capital

How music collectives in London are creating alternative mutual aid networks

By Erin Cobby

Anarchy in the capital

It’s 2019 and, like the majority of young people in Britain who made it to the ballots, you’ve just cast your vote for Jeremy Corbyn in the general election.

Time goes by and you watch as Corbyn is replaced by Keir Starmer and despite promises not to move too far away from Corbyn’s programme of nationalisation and fighting austerity, Labour becomes more and more centrist.

Fast-forward to 2023 and Starmer has reneged on promises like the abolition of university fees, public ownership of utilities and, at the time of writing, has just promised his government’s hard-line approach to low-level drug use.

It’s safe to say, you’re feeling pretty un-represented by the Labour party, and it goes without saying that the Conservative party’s 10 year run of racist and transphobic action now evokes a blistering rage. This has been my experience anyway.

So what do you do? If, like a lot of your peers, you want to remain politically active but don’t feel as though working within the bounds of mainstream politics is representative of your thoughts, feelings and identity, where do you turn?

Anarchy in the capital

How music collectives in London are creating alternative mutual aid networks

By Erin Cobby