Inksurgency: Radical Leftist Publishing Then and Now

As part of our Big Flame event series, join us for a lively panel discussion chaired by the Little Flames group and featuring activists past and present, who work across independent leftist publishing.

From the Big Flame newspaper to contemporary indie pubs, come along to hear insights about the power of print in our movements.

The event will begin with around 45 minutes of panelist discussion, followed by a 20-minute audience Q&A.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to check out the Keep the Flame Burning exhibition in the main library building from 5PM - 6:45PM.

Speakers include: Nick Davidson from Big Flame, Paula Lacecy, Chris Shortt and Amy Todd.

Speaker Bios:

Chris Shortt (he/him) is a working-class graphic designer and editor from Manchester, working between Cambridge and London. He has designed publications for Tate Publishing, Norfolk Museums, and the University of East Anglia, alongside his full-time job in book sales at Tate. Since 2021, Chris has been the book designer for Common Threads Press, a small press dedicated to the radical histories of crafts and making, which he runs with his partner and founder, Laura Moseley. They have published books on topics such as Palestinian embroidery, Hawaiian quilts and ecology, and the protest banners of the disabled rights movement, and their publications are sold in bookshops and exhibited in museums all over the world.

Amy Todd is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester and People's History Museum researching the 1970s socialist feminist magazine Red Rag. She is also co-director of the Class Work Project - which publishes working class and poor writers and delivers workshops to groups, organisations and communities to facilitate cross class conversations and redistributive action. Amy has led on many community projects that use zines, writing and publishing to explore identity, gender, class and community.

Paula Lacey is a writer, researcher and editor based in Glasgow. They are a co-editor of Red Pepper Magazine, the Editorial Assistant at New Internationalist, and an incoming PhD candidate in sociology whose work focuses on media, technology and activism. In their spare time, they enjoy playing roller derby and lamenting the rise of short-form video content.

Nick Davidson - I moved north to L’pool in the early 1970s to train as a journalist on the local newspaper and TV station. Oh my god the cultural shock ! I became a founding member of BF, editor of the BF newspaper and later editor of the BF Journal. When the revolution ‘stalled’ in the 1980s - temporarily I hope - i became a writer and documentary film-maker.

Community Policy

The history of the groups, campaigns and individuals who make up our collection at the Working Class Movement Library has a wide range of positions and the Library is committed to ensuring that this range is available for people to explore for themselves. Although respectful debate is encouraged, we will not tolerate sexism, homophobia, racism, transphobia, nor oppressive language or behaviour based on any structural inequality, including disability, socio-economic status, sexuality, age, education, religious affiliation, or gender expression. All who use our space, both the physical Library and its virtual spaces, share responsibility for maintaining it as a safe and welcoming one.

If you have any questions prior to your visit, then please contact us on – events@wcml.org.uk