The Anti-fascist Legendary Labour Fundraiser is using discounted designer merch to challenge Tory rule

Left-leaning parties might not have the billionaire backing of the Conservatives, but they have the creativity and passion of UK artists on their side.

We all know that all is fair in love and war — but what about politics? Despite being lucky enough to live in a society that is democratic, various disparities prevent political parties from truly operating on an even footing. In recent years, the role that funding plays in furthering campaigns has recently come under scrutiny. As it turns out, rich people love giving their money to the Tories — likely due to their lingering “Hail Britannia” sentiment and the promise of tax breaks — meaning that the Conservative general election campaign has received millions of pounds worth of private donations.

Private donations to the Conservatives far outstrip those to Labour; with the right-wing party earning 26 times more than the opposition in the first week of the general election. With this money, the Conservative party can invest heavily in digital campaigns and advertising in a way that could ultimately prove decisive. In order to help combat this, left-leaning individuals have to get a little creative. Various collectives (such as Creativity4Change) have cropped up to advocate for a Labour Government and some have even resorted to witchcraft.

In a bid to put their money where their mouths are, various cultural figures from across the UK — from designers Claire Barrow, ASAI and Matty Bovan to PC Music’s Hannah Diamond  — organised to create the Anti-Fascist Legendary Labour Fundraiser. Taking place on 1 December at Ormside Projects, over 60 artists and designers donated items to be sold in order to gain funds for Labour’s campaign, whilst authors like Juliet Jacques read their work, and DJs such as Bala Club’s Kamixlo played sets throughout the night.

On the night, the collective made £6000 which was donated directly to the Labour Party’s election campaign. Now, the fundraising continues via sales through the group’s official Instagram page, where you can still cop discounted designs by the likes of Ashley Williams and Maisie Ida Pearson. Head over to @antifascistlegendarylabourfund to grab a bargain and make a difference.

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Megan Wallace