Practical Anarchy newspaper (Glasgow)

The first iteration of Practical Anarchy was as a punk fanzine affiliated with the Groucho Marxist record label based in Paisley at the beginning of the 1980s.

This led to the widespread circulation of a local broadsheet Paisley Gutterpress which achieved a notoriety through lampooning politicians and revealing scandals in the corridors of the Local Council. Practical Anarchy then went on to its second reincarnation as a [Clydeside Anarchist] Group magazine, only 1 of the 2 issues being distributed.

In April 1982, Practical Anarchy was relaunched as a broadsheet and its notoriety was immediately achieved by the coincidence of the Falklands War. ‘Fuck the Falklands’ declared the tabloid–style front-page and to underline the tension at the targeted CND demonstration, a dozen anarchists were arrested as the local constabulary desperately tried to impound the offending challenge to anti-militarism...

Issues followed at more or less monthly intervals, and although circulation rarely exceeded 4,000 an issue, there was a generally well-received response at CND demonstrations & the like, excepting the Stewards & the straight Left who were wrong-footed by the audacious & lampooning approach.

Apart from broadsheets, which came to predominate up to mid-1984, flyers were produced1 , ideal for flyposting, announcing ‘This Man is Rat’ (William Gray, ex-Provost); 'Anarchist Alternative to Suicide’ after two unemployed youths topped themselves in Warrington; an ‘expose’ on an underground shelter in the Burrell Collection vaults(!); an anti-parasite warning on the occasion of Prince Charles’ wedding; and odd creations such as the ‘passport’ leaflet during the Falklands War, the giro leaflet paid to 'A. Doler of Nowhere Place', and the Songs for Swinging Scroungers at the Picket of the CBI Conference in 1984.

From A Public Nuisance: Tales of Adventure & Spirit of Revolt: Glasgow Anarchists 1974 to 1986, by Jim McFarlane.

PDFs courtesy of Sparrows Nest and Spirit of Revolt archives.