Tickets for Marxism event dubbed 'UK's biggest left-wing festival' cost more than average day's work

Tickets for a Marxist event labelling itself “Britain's biggest left-wing festival” will cost more than the average day’s work to attend.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the average full-time employee in the UK earns approximately £11.82 per hour after tax, which equates to roughly £94.55 per day.

For a standard 5-day week, this is roughly £472.75, although daily rates vary significantly by industry, region, and seniority.

However, a full festival ticket to Marxism 2026 costs £101.50, with the cost contributing to “help us keep Marxism going”, according to the official site.

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The event is organised by the Socialist Workers Party and claims to be UK's biggest left-wing festival, drawing thousands to the event each year.

Event details state the festival will see “mass rallies addressing the big political questions of our time, alongside hundreds of meetings and workshops digging into history, theory and strategy".

It goes on to state: “Expect sharp debates, meetings on key Marxist theory, film screenings, live music and cultural events.

“In a world marked by war, racism, climate crisis and inequality, we need socialist strategy and collective action more than ever.”

The Socialist Workers' Party announced Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana, Your Party MPs, will both be in attendance at the four-day event.

Mr Corbyn earlier today announced he had penned a letter urging the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, to retract claims a Palestine protest over the weekend had “intent to walk past synagogues".

The former Labour leader has been joined by more than 30 MPs and four members of the House of Lords that have called for the force's chief to publicly retract his claims.

Sir Mark told The Times “their initial suggestion for their route, their march, has involved walking by a synagogue", adding: "The fact that features as the organisers’ intent, I think that sends a message, that feels like antisemitism.”

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The march organisers have refuted this, saying the route was rejected due to another march taking place.

In his letter, Mr Corbyn said: “At no point have the organisers ever ‘set out with an intent to march near synagogues’ or actively sought to ‘walk by’ a synagogue on any of the marches.

“‘It is totally unacceptable for a commissioner to make these baseless claims, which malign a mass movement standing up for peace and humanity.

“Our marches bring together people of all faiths and none; including thousands of Jewish people.”

He claimed the words from the Met were contributing “to a climate of division, distrust and fear".

Mr Corbyn urged Sir Mark “to retract your comments as soon as possible".

Labour MPs Diane Abbot and Richard Burgon, as well as the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer, are among those who have signed the letter.

A spokesman for the Met declined to retract Sir Mark's comments, saying in a statement the force had to amend the routes or the gathering point of the Palestine Coalition’s marches on 20 occasions “to protect Jewish communities".

They said: “Examples include protests beginning at Marble Arch or the north of Park Lane both of which are in the vicinity of two nearby synagogues, or at Portland Place which is just 300m from the Central Synagogue.

“We continue to appeal to everyone to acknowledge how British Jews are feeling in the current climate.

“That extends to those organising or taking part in protests.

“It should not be controversial to ask them to be mindful of the impact their actions, whether intended or not, have on other Londoners.”

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