Stop the Cuts - National Demonstration

+1 (well, not that SWP, the other one!)

The SWP and their ANL style of anti-fascism had very little impact in deprived workign class areas if you compare them to the decades of street campaigning and confrontation by AFA, the Asian Youth Networks etc.

Anyway, usually it is the SWP (or any similar vanguardist socialists for that matter) who hijack genuinely powerful grassroots campaigns, turn them into recruiting platforms, alienate the majority, and ruin chances of success. (see, for e.g. Stop the War)

Oh I generally agree with you about the SWP but I know for certain that they did have a great effect on the isle of dogs. As a political party they are irrelevant but as activists, as people who will deliver the leaflets and co-ordinate action, many of them are very dedicated.
I also agree with you about the role public demos play in change; they are the face of the campaign and it is what goes on behind that that makes the real difference.