Author: John W (Plan C friend + Workers Planet)
What Is It
This is not a new campaign or organisation; it is a call-out for a shared geographic understanding of mobilisation strategy. This understanding has come from the shared frustration of many activists in small towns who have felt inhibited by national organisations that disproportionately represent the strategic consensus of those who live in London and other major cities. In 2025, the far right began to mobilise with increased visibility across the UK, with activities such as Operation Raise the Colours. What has become clear for many in small towns, deprioritised by the left, is the need for an urgent intervention into how grassroots organisations mobilise.
For over four decades, following the substantial defeat of organised labour in the 1980s, the left and grassroots movements have, for the most part, seen their activity concentrated around university towns. This concentration has shaped the demographics of those who participate in social movements, leading to an academisation in many places that prioritises the material concerns of those who live in these cities ahead of other sections of the population. A major symptom of this geographic concentration is framing class struggle around the needs of downwardly socially mobile graduates who, despite their militancy, do not represent a large enough section of the population to advance progressive struggles. Consequently, an estimated 70% of the UK population lives in a town or city that does not host a major independent university campus (2021 UK Census), yet these locations are repeatedly deprioritised by social movements.
The Call-Out
Mobilise Everywhere is a call-out to members of the UK population in underrepresented areas to connect and link up with any local activity that shares similar values. We have chosen May Day as an existing low-barrier call-out where activity is likely to be happening. We are asking local activists to attend existing demonstrations, organise street stalls, participate in banner drops, and host small-scale workers’ assemblies.
Despite national grassroots organisations often highlighting their networks of local groups, these groups rarely exist in more than 20 locations, almost exclusively in university towns. The only organisation that comes close to having national coverage through local groups is the TUC, with its network of local trades councils. Because of this, May Day, or International Workers’ Day, is a natural point for an intervention centred around geographic coverage.
This call-out is based on the lived material priorities of activists in non-university towns. This low-barrier approach is essential to guarantee maximum levels of local participation and to avoid the sectarianism and gatekeeping that often accompany the establishment of grassroots organisations led by those based in the capital. While some in the inner circles of national organisations may be cynical about the prospects of this approach, often perceiving it as overly simplistic, responses in outlying small cities, towns, and villages have been overwhelmingly positive about its potential to provide a much-needed kickstart to local activity.
Who Is Behind It
The initial framing of this geographic problem emerged from an internal meeting of Workers Planet, which is itself an eco-socialist alliance formed from the trade union outreach efforts of six organisations: Fuel Poverty Action, Tipping Point UK, GND Rising, Campaign Against Climate Change, the Worker Climate Project, and the Climate Justice Coalition.
In 2025, Workers Planet circulated an open letter calling on trade unions to do more to tackle climate misinformation and the re-emergence of the far right. In a subsequent meeting, organisers discussed the value of hosting a fringe event at the 2026 TUC Congress versus focusing on other parts of the UK where the far right poses a more immediate threat.
Following this meeting, Workers Planet began informal discussions with other organisations that had also expressed concerns about the geographic gap in grassroots organising being exploited by the far right. In January 2026, an informal meeting was held with representatives from Workers Planet, Plan C, Assemble, and the Climate Justice Coalition. At this meeting, a shared understanding of strategic orientation was recognised, and the name Mobilise Everywhere was proposed for a May Day initiative to promote increased activity and build a picture of existing grassroots capacity in as many areas as possible. The following week, an invitation was sent to a number of organisations to attend a call and watch a presentation on the geographic concentration of left wing and grassroots organising.
At the time of writing, no formal organisation exists for Mobilise Everywhere; however, there has been a proposal for an online map, to be built by Common Knowledge, for the purpose of allowing local activists to submit grassroots activity in their area so others can join. On 12 February, a crowdfunder was launched for this effort. In addition, we have begun circulating an open letter in the hope that others will answer the call.
What Are the Demands
Rather than adopt specific demands, which may again lead to organisational sectarianism, we have articulated shared values.
Class-conscious – Recognising the global struggle of the working class for economic justice and the threat to democracy posed by the billionaire class.
Pro–climate justice – Recognising the existential threat of human-made climate change, requiring urgent action, and acknowledging the responsibility of those causing the most environmental damage to rectify it.
Anti-fascism – Opposing all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, and disability.
Anti-imperialism – Respecting the right to self-determination free from military and economic aggression, particularly against those in the Global South.
In relation to this, we encourage any group to campaign around demands that reflect these values.
What Will Happen Beyond May Day
We are still figuring this out but following May Day, we will continue to promote consciousness-raising activities across the country. The primary call will be to support local organisers in connecting with their local trades councils and hosting community and workers’ assemblies for the purpose of identifying campaigns rooted in the material concerns of their area.
Who Has Answered the Call So Far
So far, a number of organisations have answered the call, and themes are emerging around wealth taxes.
The Climate Justice Coalition with a small number of local groups will continue to campaign around its demand to “Make Billionaires Pay.”
Unite Union Community Branches have answered the call for a national weekend of action on May Day with the tagline “Why Should the Poor Pay More?”
Other organisations supporting the call-out in various capacities include:
Workers Planet
Assemble
Plan C
Common Knowledge
The Movement Ecology Collective
Unite SW008 Branch
BFAWU KernowDevon Transformed
Workers for Energy for All
