Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Ash Sarkar

Ashna Sarkar (born 1992) is a , , and political commentator specializing in left-wing perspectives on , culture, and international affairs. She serves as a contributing editor at , an independent outlet focused on progressive analysis, and has contributed articles to publications such as and . Sarkar, raised in by a with activist roots, studied at and initially pursued academic interests before entering media and commentary. Describing herself as a libertarian communist, she has built a public profile through combative television appearances on programs like Good Morning Britain, where she defends anti-capitalist positions, and through her 2025 book Minority Rule, which argues that an overemphasis on and culture-war tactics has weakened left-wing movements by diverting from material class interests. Among her defining controversies, Sarkar secured substantial damages in 2021 from columnist , who issued an apology for posting content deemed racist and misogynistic toward her on . She also lectures on politics at institutions like the Sandberg Institute in , emphasizing empirical critiques of power structures over performative .

Background

Early Life

Ash Sarkar was born in 1992 in . She was raised primarily by her mother, a social worker active in trade unionism and campaigning, alongside a grandmother similarly engaged in those movements, in a female-dominated household marked by interracial and interfaith marriages. Her biological father, who was Hindu, was absent from her upbringing, while her Muslim mother remarried a —a self-described centrist—when Sarkar was around 11 years old. The family maintained heritage, with roots tracing to ; Sarkar's great-great-aunt, , died during the 1930s Uprising against British colonial rule. Growing up in working-class communities in , including , she was exposed to diverse social circles encompassing , Caribbeans, and Africans, fostering early awareness of communal mutual support amid financial precarity, such as concerns over affording school necessities. Household discussions frequently centered on and , with family prohibitions against right-wing views or supporting certain teams; these influences led Sarkar to begin reading at age 13, shaping her initial ideological leanings through a lens of familial and lived economic constraints. Her mother emphasized values of independence and pride in heritage, though Sarkar ultimately identified with despite initial encouragement toward .

Education

Sarkar obtained a degree in from (), commencing her undergraduate studies in the first term of the 2010–2011 academic year amid the national protests against proposed increases in tuition fees. She subsequently completed a degree in at the same institution. These qualifications positioned her for entry into and , though specific details on her academic performance or thesis topics remain undocumented in public records. No verified information exists on her pre-university education beyond her upbringing in .

Professional Career

Journalism and Activism Entry

Ash Sarkar entered political activism influenced by her family's anti-racist efforts, with her grandmother and mother actively involved in such campaigns during her upbringing in north London. Her own engagement began amid the 2010-2011 UK student protests against tuition fee increases, where she aligned with emerging left-wing student movements opposing austerity measures. By 2018, The Times described her as "the poster girl for the radical left," reflecting her public advocacy for libertarian communist principles, including collective resource management to address inequality. In journalism, Sarkar has contributed opinion pieces and analysis to mainstream outlets, including , , and , often critiquing capitalism, imperialism, and institutional power structures from a Marxist perspective. These writings emphasize class-based over fragmented approaches, as evidenced in her arguments for prioritizing economic redistribution—such as taxing wealth concentrations—over cultural divisions. Her activist intersects with direct commentary on events like pro-Palestinian demonstrations, where she has defended protesters' rights while challenging media narratives on institutional bias. Sources close to her work note a shift in recent years toward critiquing "" excesses within left-wing circles for alienating broader working-class support, though this remains rooted in her commitment to revolutionary change rather than liberal reforms.

Novara Media Role

Ash Sarkar joined , a alternative media outlet founded in 2013, in 2015 as a senior editor. In this capacity, she has focused on producing content aligned with the organization's left-wing perspective, including written analyses of political events, cultural critiques, and ideological commentary. Her role encompasses editorial contributions, such as opinion pieces on topics ranging from antiracist solidarity in dismantling capitalism (published August 9, 2021) to the politicization of whiteness and (February 3, 2021). Sarkar also participates in Novara's multimedia output, co-hosting the interview series Downstream alongside , which features in-depth discussions on political strategy and current affairs. She contributes to FM, exploring historical and discursive concepts like the invention of whiteness (episode aired July 24, 2015). Additionally, she authors The Cortado, a weekly political analysis newsletter, exemplified by her May 24, 2024, piece critiquing the government's Rwanda deportation policy. Through these efforts, Sarkar has helped position as a platform for Marxist-influenced critiques of mainstream institutions, including examinations of (e.g., November 9, 2022, article on abuse reporting) and geopolitical solidarity movements (February 27, 2025, analysis of pro-Israel ). Her ongoing involvement, as a self-described contributing editor on , underscores her influence in shaping the outlet's digital-left orientation amid criticisms of its framing.

Academic and Lecturing Positions

Sarkar served as an associate in at in 2017. In this capacity, she delivered teaching on international political dynamics, drawing from her background in and media analysis, though the role was short-term and not indicative of a full-time academic appointment. She currently lectures at the Sandberg Instituut, a postgraduate department of the University of the Arts, where she contributes to an experimental master's program integrating film, , and studies. This position emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to and structures, aligning with her journalistic focus on cultural and political critique, but remains a part-time rather than a primary academic career. No evidence indicates tenured or permanent roles beyond these engagements.

Political Ideology and Commentary

Marxist Foundations

Ash Sarkar employs a Marxist analytical framework to interpret social and economic structures, emphasizing material conditions and class relations as primary drivers of historical development. She has articulated that Karl Marx's work elucidates the underlying causes of societal organization, stating in a 2025 that "Marx really does for your thinking... he shows you why society is the way it is," even for those who do not fully adopt . This perspective informs her critique of contemporary issues, where she prioritizes over individualistic or cultural explanations, drawing from Marx's to argue that production relations shape consciousness and power dynamics. Sarkar's Marxism aligns with libertarian communism, which she distinguishes from authoritarian variants by advocating collective ownership of necessities without hierarchical state control. In describing her ideology, she has referenced the Communist Manifesto by Marx and Friedrich Engels as a text requiring reinterpretation by each generation to address modern exploitation, underscoring her view of capitalism as perpetuating alienation through commodified labor. She explicitly identifies as a communist, as evidenced by her 2018 televised retort—"I'm a communist, you idiot"—in response to accusations of hypocrisy regarding luxury consumption under capitalism, framing her position as compatible with personal enjoyment provided it challenges systemic inequality. This self-identification stems from a belief in communal management of resources for human flourishing, rooted in Marxist critiques of private property. Central to her Marxist foundations is a rejection of divorced from class analysis, which she contends dilutes revolutionary potential by substituting liberal for proletarian . In her 2025 Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War, Sarkar argues that identity-based movements, when untethered from Marxist class thinking, prioritize personal affirmation over structural overhaul, echoing Marx's warnings against bourgeois ideology fragmenting the . She applies this lens to as well, interpreting Marx's phrase "" not as mere dismissal but as recognition of faith expressing unmet human needs for dignity amid material deprivation. While her framework draws selectively from , avoiding endorsements of Leninist or Trotskyist —despite criticisms from such groups—it consistently privileges empirical analysis of over moralistic or identitarian appeals.

Critiques of Identity Politics and Culture Wars

Ash Sarkar has argued that contemporary , particularly in its liberal form, often prioritizes symbolic gestures and individual recognition over collective class-based mobilization, thereby weakening the left's ability to address material inequalities. In her 2025 book Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War, Sarkar contends that this strain of fosters a politics of " and victimhood" rather than genuine , which she views as essential for building broad working-class coalitions. She traces the origins of to radical movements but criticizes its co-optation by elite institutions, where it serves to manage without challenging capitalist power structures, as evidenced by corporate adoption of initiatives that fail to redistribute resources. Sarkar maintains that an overemphasis on has sidelined , allowing cultural debates to eclipse economic redistribution and permitting right-wing forces to exploit working-class grievances by framing issues as threats to norms. In a March 3, 2025, opinion piece, she wrote that "we've witnessed the rise of a kind of that sidelines ," which has alienated potential allies among the and handed rhetorical advantages to the far right. This perspective aligns with her broader Marxist framework, where she prioritizes struggle as the primary axis of , arguing that identities like and intersect with but are subordinate to economic in causal terms for systemic change. Regarding culture wars, Sarkar describes them as distractions engineered by media and elites to fragment opposition, with the left's immersion in performative debates—such as over microaggressions or symbolic —diverting energy from policy fights on wages, , and services. She has stated that the left's fixation on these wars has rendered it "ineffective," advocating instead for a materialist approach that organizes around shared economic interests rather than policing or cultural norms. In interviews promoting Minority Rule, Sarkar emphasized that "minority rule" refers to exaggerated fears of demographic shifts weaponized in culture wars, but she critiques the left's response as equally counterproductive, urging a return to universalist principles rooted in labor organizing over identitarian fragmentation. While acknowledging the validity of addressing through lenses in specific contexts, Sarkar warns that uncritical embrace of frameworks risks reinforcing hierarchies by treating marginalized groups as perpetual clients of state or corporate benevolence, rather than agents in warfare. This critique draws from her observations of left-wing derailing discussions with -based call-outs, which she sees as alienating broader constituencies and benefiting conservative narratives of left-wing . Her position reflects a tension within leftist circles, where she rejects both right-wing dismissals of concerns and what she terms the "sanctimonious" overreach of culturalism, favoring empirical focus on power dynamics over subjective grievance.

Media Appearances and Public Engagements

Viral Television Clashes

One of Ash Sarkar's earliest prominent television clashes occurred on January 17, 2018, during a Good Morning Britain segment debating whether schoolchildren should be required to learn the . Joined by Conservative MP , Sarkar argued against mandatory patriotism in education, criticizing it as state indoctrination, while host challenged her views by pointing to her wearing a watch—estimated at £50,000—as evidence of personal hypocrisy amid her critiques of . The exchange escalated into accusations of class inconsistency, with Sarkar defending her stance by distinguishing personal consumption from systemic economic power, though the moment drew widespread online commentary on perceived contradictions in leftist activism. A more widely viewed confrontation followed on July 12, 2018, in another Good Morning Britain appearance focused on protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's impending visit. Morgan repeatedly interrupted Sarkar, attributing admiration for to her despite her emphasis on Trump's policies, prompting her retort: "I'm literally a communist, you idiot." This outburst, amid broader sparring over Trump's character and economic hypocrisy—including renewed scrutiny of Sarkar's —amassed millions of views on platforms, propelling her into international attention. Sarkar later attributed her frustration to Morgan's misrepresentations and persistent interruptions, which she described as derailing substantive discussion on and trade. These Good Morning Britain episodes, both hosted by , established Sarkar as a combative media figure, with clips circulating extensively on and , often framed by supporters as bold defenses of and by critics as intemperate or evasive. The July clip, in particular, led to commercial tie-ins like Novara Media's "I'm literally a communist" merchandise, which raised funds for the outlet while amplifying her self-identification as a communist. Subsequent invitations to programs like reflected the viral boost to her public profile, though the clashes also invited scrutiny over the alignment between her and lifestyle choices.

Question Time and Broadcast Debates

Ash Sarkar has appeared multiple times on BBC's , a flagship political debate programme, engaging in discussions on , , and social issues. Her debut notable appearance occurred on 11 May 2023, where she debated topics including public sector strikes and immigration policy alongside panellists such as minister and Conservative MP Sir . On 17 October 2024, Sarkar participated in an episode filmed in , clashing with Conservative commentator over wealth inequality and foreign policy, while sharing the panel with businessman Steve Rigby. She returned on 16 October 2025 in , , where she criticised billionaire wealth concentration and the privatisation of public services, arguing that "privatisation is a failed experiment that needs to end," in response to audience questions on economic mismanagement. In these appearances, Sarkar has frequently advocated for Marxist critiques of , such as condemning "billionaire wealth hoarding" as a barrier to public investment in infrastructure like and services, which she attributed to decades of under both and Conservative governments. During the 2025 episode, she described Silicon Valley tech leaders as "emotionally maladapted psychopaths" in a debate on artificial intelligence's societal impacts, prompting pushback from panellist on the need for balanced innovation discourse. Her interventions often draw on empirical examples, like the UK's £13 billion annual company subsidies amid persistent spills, to argue for renationalisation, though critics on the programme have countered that such policies risk deterring investment without addressing underlying inefficiencies. Beyond , Sarkar has featured in heated broadcast debates on other outlets, notably clashing with presenter on ITV's Good Morning Britain. On 17 January 2018, she debated mandatory singing of the in schools, defending anti-imperialist critiques of British history against Morgan's accusations of unpatriotism, which escalated into mutual interruptions over . Another confrontation occurred in July 2018 during discussions of protests against Donald Trump's visit, where Sarkar accused Morgan of incompetence in handling counterarguments, later reflecting that she "lost her temper" when pressed on . Sarkar also appeared on Channel 5's Jeremy Vine debate show on 2 September 2019, where tensions arose over Brexit coverage biases, with her challenging panellists on the programme's framing of Remain arguments as elitist. On BBC Politics Live in March 2023, she highlighted perceived inconsistencies in asylum policy enforcement, accusing policymakers of selective outrage on migration. In November 2024, she critiqued Elon Musk's advisory role in UK government efficiency drives on the same programme, questioning conflicts of interest tied to his business empire. These exchanges underscore Sarkar's style of direct confrontation, often prioritising class-based analyses over consensus-building, which has polarised audiences and fellow panellists.

Writings

Books

Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War is Ash Sarkar's debut book, published by on 27 February . The 390-page work critiques and liberal cultural strategies from a Marxist perspective, arguing that minority elites exploit culture wars to maintain power while diverting attention from class-based economic issues. It reached the top 5 on bestseller list shortly after release. Sarkar draws on historical and contemporary examples to advocate for proletarian solidarity over fragmented identity coalitions, positioning the text as a call for revolutionary amid perceived failures of left-liberalism. The book has been described as delivering its arguments with rhetorical punch, though reviewers note its alignment with libertarian communist ideals. An version, narrated by Sarkar herself, was released concurrently, spanning 9 hours and 17 minutes. Prior to this, Sarkar had not authored standalone books, focusing instead on , articles, and media commentary.

Articles and Opinion Pieces

Sarkar has authored numerous opinion pieces for , often addressing political strategy, cultural debates, and leftist ideology. In a March 3, 2025, article, she argued that the left's emphasis on as victimhood narratives has alienated potential allies and strengthened right-wing appeals to liberation, urging a reframing toward collective empowerment rather than grievance. Earlier, on December 10, 2019, she challenged claims that the under had lost working-class support, asserting that pollster methodologies inadequately captured economic among younger demographics misclassified as middle-class. Her contributions have also critiqued cultural phenomena through a materialist lens. In an April 29, 2019, piece, Sarkar cautioned against overbroad accusations of cultural appropriation, distinguishing between exploitative power imbalances rooted in and benign cultural exchange, while emphasizing economic structures over symbolic policing. On July 10, 2018, she dismissed nostalgic invocations of Britain's colonial past by figures like as irrelevant to contemporary politics, advocating focus on future-oriented policies over historical . In response to personal defamation, her March 16, 2021, article highlighted perceived double standards in media treatment of Islamophobic rhetoric, framing columnist Julie Burchill's insults as emblematic of broader institutional biases favoring certain victims. At , where Sarkar serves as senior editor, her opinion writing extends these themes into direct advocacy. A February 3, , article proposed channeling working-class discontent into organized political beyond mere attitudinal shifts, critiquing the limits of cultural persuasion without . Her pieces there consistently prioritize class analysis over identity fragmentation, reflecting her Marxist commitments, though critics note a tendency to downplay of electoral shifts in favor of theoretical reinterpretations.

Controversies and Legal Matters

Defamation Case Against

In early 2021, , a columnist for , posted a series of comments on targeting Ash Sarkar, a senior editor at . Burchill accused Sarkar of "worshipping a paedophile" in reference to Sarkar's defense of the Prophet Muhammad, whom Burchill described derogatorily in connection with historical accounts of his marriage to , and included other abusive remarks deemed racist and misogynistic. Sarkar initiated legal proceedings against Burchill for and , claiming the statements were false, defamatory, and caused her reputational harm. The case did not proceed to ; on March 16, 2021, Burchill agreed to an out-of-court , paying Sarkar substantial undisclosed damages and issuing a full public . In her apology, published via Sarkar's legal representatives, Burchill retracted the allegations, admitting they were "wholly untrue" and had included "racist and misogynist ," expressing for the distress caused to Sarkar and her . The settlement also covered Sarkar's legal costs, underscoring the legal recognition of the posts' defamatory nature under law, where truth or honest opinion defenses were not successfully asserted by Burchill.

Broader Criticisms and Ideological Disputes

Sarkar's self-identification as a communist has elicited ideological opposition from those emphasizing the empirical track record of 20th-century Marxist states, including the and Maoist , where centralized planning correlated with famines, purges, and GDP per capita lagging far behind market-oriented economies—outcomes she has been accused of sidestepping in public defenses of the ideology. In her 2018 clash with on Good Morning Britain, where she affirmed "I'm literally a communist," critics contended this overlooked an estimated 100 million deaths attributable to communist regimes, as documented in historical analyses, framing her position as ahistorical optimism detached from causal evidence of incentive distortions under state control. Her broader Marxist framework, which prioritizes class antagonism over pluralistic reforms, clashes with and centrist views that attribute societal progress to incremental institutions like and property rights, rather than revolutionary expropriation; detractors argue this underestimates how capitalist competition has empirically lifted global poverty rates from 90% in 1820 to under 10% by 2015, per data, while Marxist alternatives consistently failed to sustain comparable growth. In Minority Rule (2025), Sarkar critiques as having devolved from into a tool that inverts priorities—fostering toward systemic overhaul while overemphasizing interpersonal —thus entrenching elite dominance by diverting from material redistribution. This analysis has divided leftist reception: some, like reviewers in , praise it as a necessary refocus on class organization amid electoral losses, such as Labour's 2024 defeat where cultural contributed to working-class ; others decry it as reductive, neglecting how identity-based grievances reflect real disparities in outcomes like incarceration rates (e.g., Black Britons at 3% of but 13% of prisoners in 2023). Accusations of ideological inconsistency arise from her Oxbridge education and media role at , which critics portray as enabling an elitist disconnect from proletarian realities, exemplified by her framing of as elite manipulation rather than a rational response to immigration's pressures (e.g., post-2004 correlating with 10-20% native drops in low-skill sectors). Such disputes underscore tensions between her theoretical commitments and observable voter behaviors, where empirical polling shows , not just , driving rightward shifts since 2016.

Reception and Legacy

Positive Assessments

Ash Sarkar has been praised by left-wing commentators for her articulate and confident presentation of socialist ideas in media appearances. In a 2025 New Statesman profile, she was described as "confident and articulate," highlighting her ability to engage complex political topics with clarity during interviews and debates. Similarly, a Guardian article noted that over the past decade, Sarkar has "built a reputation for bringing the fight, robustly defending her positions," crediting her persistence in challenging mainstream narratives on platforms like BBC Question Time. Her contributions to independent media through , where she serves as a contributing editor, have been commended for expanding alternative leftist discourse. Analysts have observed that has emerged as a key outlet for audiences disillusioned with mainstream coverage, filling a gap in analysis dominated by older demographics and offering fresh perspectives on politics. In 2023, Sarkar was ranked No. 45 on the New Statesman's Left Power List, recognizing her influence within progressive circles as a commentator and writer for outlets including and . Sarkar's 2025 book Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War received positive remarks for its engaging style and personal insights into leftist strategies. Reviewers appreciated its accessibility, describing it as "an easy and engaging read" that draws effectively on the author's experiences to critique cultural dynamics, even if not always rigorously analytical. Supporters value her unapologetic advocacy for alongside , viewing it as a vital counter to conservative gains in public discourse.

Criticisms of Elitism and Empirical Shortcomings

Critics have accused Ash Sarkar of elitism, portraying her self-description as a "luxury communist" during a 2018 Good Morning Britain appearance—where she contrasted her comfortable lifestyle with ideological commitments—as emblematic of a detached, affluent leftism that overlooks the hardships faced by ordinary workers. This label, originally self-applied to denote compatible with personal amenities, has been repurposed by detractors to argue that Sarkar's advocacy for radical economic overhaul stems from an insulated position, unburdened by the immediate consequences of policies like open migration or wealth redistribution that disproportionately affect lower-income groups. Such critiques extend to claims that Sarkar exhibits disdain for the white working class, whom she has described as invoking "illusionary, misconceived, or even 'weaponised'" grievances to undermine racial justice advances, thereby pathologizing the concerns of approximately 26 million white workers in the UK labor force. Commentators contend this reflects an elite worldview, prioritizing abstract identity politics over tangible class struggles, as evidenced by her minimization of demographic shifts' role in union membership stagnation—from 8 million to 6 million members between 2000 and 2025—amid workforce expansion to 34 million, largely driven by immigration. On empirical grounds, Sarkar's arguments have faced scrutiny for selectively disregarding data that contradicts her positions, such as showing narrowing ethnic and pay gaps in , which she rejects in favor of persistent narratives of systemic . In debates, including exchanges with , critics highlight her framing of population concerns as veiled racial animus—responding to queries on demographic policy with accusations of seeking "a vote on how many children and Asian Brits have"—as evading evidence-based discussion of cultural challenges or resource strains. Her insistence that is an immutable "fact of human existence" is faulted for neglecting causal links to economic pressures on native workers, prioritizing ideological assertions over verifiable outcomes like wage suppression in low-skill sectors. Further inconsistencies arise in her treatment of , where she deems it "unreal" as a biological category yet "perennial" in social impact, a duality critics argue undermines rigorous and favors rhetorical flourish over falsifiable claims. These shortcomings, according to observers, render her commentary more performative than substantive, appealing to an educated urban audience while alienating those whose lived realities—marked by empirical indicators of declining power and cultural —her framework dismisses.

References

  1. [1]
    Ash Sarkar - High Profiles
    Sep 11, 2020 · Ash Sarkar was born in north London in 1992 and educated at Enfield County School (now Enfield County School for Girls) and the Latymer School ...
  2. [2]
    Ash Sarkar: “I wasn't smart enough to listen when I was younger”
    Feb 26, 2025 · Ash Sarkar, who calls herself a “frustrated idealist”, was born in Tottenham and now lives in Harringay, north London. Her grandmother is from ...
  3. [3]
    Ash Sarkar | Novara Media
    Ash Sarkar is a contributing editor at Novara Media. https://twitter.com/AyoCaesar. Articles. Opinion · A pro-Palestinian protester with a keffiyeh around ...
  4. [4]
    Ash Sarkar: Bloomsbury Publishing (IN)
    Biography. Ash Sarkar is a writer, lecturer, journalist and political commentator. A contributing editor of Novara Media, she has written for the Guardian, ...
  5. [5]
    Ash Sarkar on culture wars, controversy and Corbyn's lost legacy
    Mar 7, 2025 · Born and raised in north London, daughter to a single mother, she studied English literature at University College London and imagined going ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  6. [6]
    Ash Sarkar - British GQ
    Ash Sarkar is a Contributing Editor for Novara Media, and her bylines can be found in The Guardian, The New Statesman, The Independent and elsewhere.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    Ash Sarkar: 'I no longer care about microaggressions
    Mar 2, 2025 · “I no longer care about microaggressions – pronounce my name however the f*** you want.” Sarkar knows that this view is controversial, and as ...
  8. [8]
    Julie Burchill agrees to pay Ash Sarkar 'substantial damages' in libel ...
    Mar 16, 2021 · Columnist apologises to journalist, saying social media posts included 'racist and misogynist' comments. Ash Sarkar: Burchill abused me, ...
  9. [9]
    The World According to Ash Sarkar - Polyester Zine
    Jan 24, 2025 · Ash Sarkar, senior editor at Novara Media and lecturer in politics at the Sandberg Institute, have gained such popularity over the past few years.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  10. [10]
    Ash Sarkar: 'Marx shows why society is the way it is' - The Scotsman
    Jun 16, 2025 · London-born Sarkar comes from a line of strong, politically minded Muslim women. Her mother and grandmother were both in the trade union ...
  11. [11]
    'That's when I lost my temper': Ash Sarkar on her clash with Piers ...
    Jul 22, 2018 · Writer, lecturer and activist Ash Sarkar, 26, grew up in north London and got two degrees at UCL. She is now senior editor at radical leftwing ...Missing: biography origins
  12. [12]
    Who is Ash Sarkar? Journalist brands the Royal Family a 'cartel'
    May 3, 2023 · The London native completed her undergraduate and master's degrees in English Literature at University College London. More in News. The ...
  13. [13]
    Ash Sarkar: 'I never learned much of value from TV' | Politics books
    Feb 15, 2025 · Ash Sarkar, 32, is a journalist and political commentator. She grew up in north London and is a contributing editor at the leftwing website ...
  14. [14]
    Ash Sarkar - New Statesman
    Ash Sarkar is contributing editor at Novara Media. Latest articles Culture Why we're obsessed with catfish scams From The Tinder Swindler and Sweet Bobby to ...Missing: newspapers | Show results with:newspapers<|control11|><|separator|>
  15. [15]
    https://www.theecologist.org/2025/jul/11/afterwoke-identity-unity
  16. [16]
    Ash Sarkar: How WOKE Politics is DESTROYING the Left! - Reddit
    Feb 22, 2025 · I know some progressive activists (the Lib Dems type) that wouldn't ever consider supporting the miners if they lived in the 80s.
  17. [17]
    Afterwoke: from identity to unity - The Ecologist
    Jul 11, 2025 · Today's identity politics, Sarkar contends, is too often centred around allyship and, at times, victimhood, rather than solidarity and a ...
  18. [18]
    Ash Sarkar | The Guardian
    Mar 3, 2025 · Ash Sarkar is a senior editor at Novara Media, and lectures in political theory at the Sandberg Instituut.
  19. [19]
    We Can't Dismantle Capitalism Without Antiracist Solidarity
    Aug 9, 2021 · Ash Sarkar. Merely referring to 'the working class' every ten seconds can't conjure a shared political identity. Black Britannia: The Asian ...
  20. [20]
    Give White People Something to Do | Novara Media
    Feb 3, 2021 · The politicisation of white people over the past five years has so far been confined to changing how people think, writes Ash Sarkar.
  21. [21]
    Novara Media
    Your weekly shot of politics and election analysis from Ash & co. Watch Downstream. Our in-depth interview show with Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar. Get Merch.About · Shop Novara Media · Articles · Novara Live<|separator|>
  22. [22]
    The Invention Of Whiteness - Novara Media
    Jul 24, 2015 · On this weeks Novara FM, Ash Sarkar is joined by Kerem Nisancioglu as they discuss the discursive formation of whiteness thoughout history.Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
  23. [23]
    Farewell, Rwanda | Novara Media
    May 24, 2024 · The article was originally published via The Cortado, a weekly shot of political analysis from Ash Sarkar. For more emails from Ash, click here.
  24. [24]
    The BBC's Investigation Into Online Abuse Is Total Bullshit
    Nov 9, 2022 · ... source of news? What might we surmise about an AI-led study ... Ash Sarkar is a contributing editor at Novara Media. Tweet article ...
  25. [25]
    How the Pro-Israel Right Used Identity Politics to Crush Palestine ...
    Feb 27, 2025 · You don't need anyone's permission to speak as your conscience dictates. Ash Sarkar is a contributing editor at Novara Media. Tweet article ...
  26. [26]
    View of Novara Media and the Rise of the Digital Left
    Despite the ubiquitous Sarkar gaining some notoriety for declaring herself to be a “communist” on British daytime TV (Diavalo 2018), there is a theoretical ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  27. [27]
    Ash Sarkar | Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War
    Ash Sarkar is a writer, lecturer, journalist and political commentator. A contributing editor of Novara Media, she has written for the Guardian, Independent ...
  28. [28]
    Ash Sarkar debut bought by Bloomsbury in 'major' pre-empt deal
    Jul 1, 2021 · Sarkar also lectures at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam, and has taught Global Politics at Anglia Ruskin University. Commenting on the deal, ...
  29. [29]
    Specters of the Popular Front: A review of Ash Sarkar's Minority Rule
    Oct 1, 2025 · Another major example Sarkar discusses is the Black Panthers' Rainbow Coalition (37–38). Formed in 1969 by Fred Hampton, the Rainbow Coalition ...
  30. [30]
    'Working Class' Is Not an Identity. Ash Sarkar Meets China Miéville
    Jun 12, 2022 · Ash Sarkar Meets China Miéville. Each generation must encounter the Communist Manifesto anew, deciphering Marx and Engels' text for their own ...Missing: Lenin | Show results with:Lenin
  31. [31]
    Ash Sarkar - Left Q&A - by Simon Fletcher - Modern Left
    Jun 17, 2022 · I describe my politics as communist because I believe that everything that we need to survive, and to live good lives, should be managed and owned and ...
  32. [32]
    Adventures in the Culture Wars: A Review Article | Leftcom
    Sarkar describes her politics as “libertarian communist” and her analytical framework as “Marxist”, and is perhaps best known for her irritated outburst on Good ...
  33. [33]
    Ash Sarkar on X: "OMFG nearly forgot - on Saturday a nameless ...
    Conversation. Ash Sarkar · @AyoCaesar. OMFG nearly forgot - on Saturday a nameless somebody from a Trotskyist sect (Eh Dubya Elle) said my politics are "Alex ...
  34. [34]
    Minority Rule: Does identity politics divide struggle? - Socialist Worker
    Feb 28, 2025 · In her new book, Minority Rule, Ash Sarkar argues a liberal identity politics has held back the left—how should the left approach identity?
  35. [35]
    The left keeps getting identity politics wrong - The Guardian
    Mar 3, 2025 · The left keeps getting identity politics wrong – and the right is benefiting from that | Ash Sarkar | The Guardian.
  36. [36]
    Politics about class, not identity, are better for the young adults I teach
    Mar 5, 2025 · Ash Sarkar is right to point out that the left's sanctimony has alienated sections of the working class (The left keeps getting identity ...
  37. [37]
    Why the Left Needs to Stop Fighting Culture Wars (Ash Sarkar) - BBC
    The journalist and political commentator Ash Sarkar has written a book called 'Minority Rule', which argues that the Left has become bogged down in identity ...
  38. [38]
    Ash Sarkar: 'I no longer care about microaggressions
    Mar 2, 2025 · The so-called 'Queen of Woke' – as Tories love to call her – is declaring time of death on the culture wars. As she publishes her first book ...
  39. [39]
    'Minority Rule' by Ash Sarkar – ISA - International Socialist Alternative
    Mar 15, 2025 · Sarkar draws on her own experiences of how the dominant form of left-wing identity politics can derail useful discussion or point away from ...
  40. [40]
    Review of “Minority Rule” by Ash Sarkar - Socialist Aotearoa
    Mar 20, 2025 · She highlights how race, gender, and other identities intersect with class, further complicating the struggle against oppression. Sarkar ...
  41. [41]
    Piers Morgan Clashes With Guest During Heated National Anthem ...
    Jan 17, 2018 · Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1NbomQa Should children be made to learn the national anthem? Andrew Rosindell and Ash Sarkar join ...
  42. [42]
    Ash Sarkar vs Piers Morgan - why Wearing My Rolex ... - YouTube
    Jan 17, 2018 · Ash Sarkar vs Piers Morgan - why Wearing My ... Piers Morgan Clashes With Guest During Heated National Anthem Debate | Good Morning Britain.
  43. [43]
    I'm Literally a Communist You Idiot - YouTube
    Jul 12, 2018 · Piers Gets Into a Fiery Debate Over Trump's UK Visit | Good Morning Britain. Good Morning Britain•2.8M views · 12:43. Go to channel ...
  44. [44]
    Question Time, 2023, 11/05/2023 - BBC
    May 11, 2023 · Broadcasts · Thu 11 May 2023 22:50. BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Wales & Wales HD · Thu 11 May 2023 22:55. BBC One Wales ...
  45. [45]
    Question Time | 17th October 2024 - YouTube
    Oct 19, 2024 · ... Ash Sarkar; businessman Steve Rigby; and author, satirist and podcast host Konstantin Kisin. Also live on iPlayer at 8pm. Copyright (C) BBC, BBC ...
  46. [46]
    Question Time: Heidi Alexander, Helen Whately, Lisa Smart, Ash ...
    Oct 16, 2025 · Question Time, BBC TV's flagship political debate programme, returns to Bishop's Stortford on Thursday (October 16) – almost seven years ...
  47. [47]
    BBC Question Time: Ash Sarkar slams billionaire wealth hoarding
    Oct 17, 2025 · POLITICAL commentator Ash Sarkar has brutally called out the UK's billionaire wealth hoarding and failed privatisation on BBC Question Time.Missing: moments | Show results with:moments
  48. [48]
    Ash Sarkar: 'Privatisation is a failed experiment that needs to end'
    152 likes, 10 comments - thelondoneconomic on October 17, 2025: "Ash Sarkar: 'Privatisation is a failed experiment that needs to end'".<|separator|>
  49. [49]
    Ash Sarkar calls silicon valley tech bros 'emotionally ... - YouTube
    Oct 17, 2025 · ... visit: www.bbc.com/news #BBCQuestionTime #BBCNews.Missing: lecturer | Show results with:lecturer
  50. [50]
    Good Morning Britain guest calls Piers Morgan incompetent during ...
    Jul 12, 2018 · Ash Sarkar argued about Donald Trump's UK visit with Piers Morgan, and called the presenter an idiot.
  51. [51]
    Tension palpable as Ash Sarkar speaks out on Channel 5 Debate ...
    Sep 6, 2019 · Tensions ran high on Channel 5's debate show on 2 September. Novara Media senior editor Ash Sarkar took aim at the inherent biases displayed ...
  52. [52]
    Ash Calls Out Racism On BBC - YouTube
    Mar 28, 2023 · Ash sarkar has been doing the Lord's work calling out the racism hypocrisy and cruelty of our political class on the BBC's politics live.
  53. [53]
    Minority Rule - Ash Sarkar (Author) - Bloomsbury Publishing
    Free delivery over $35Feb 27, 2025 · Description. **A Guardian Book of the Summer 2025** ** The instant top 5 Sunday Times bestseller from political commentator Ash Sarkar **
  54. [54]
    Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War by Ash Sarkar
    Feb 20, 2025 · A Marxist critique of left-liberal politics that delivers its message with punch and panache.
  55. [55]
    Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War – the instant Sunday ...
    'Minority rule' is the term Ash Sarkar uses to describe the irrational fear that minorities are trying to overturn and oppress majority populations.
  56. [56]
    Minority Rule by Ash Sarkar | Book review | The TLS
    May 23, 2025 · A young Muslim woman preaching Marxism alongside anti-racism and decolonialism, and a vocal pro-trans ally.
  57. [57]
    https://www.audible.com/author/Ash-Sarkar/B0DTNT5Z59
  58. [58]
    Ash Sarkar: Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
    Free delivery over $35Ash Sarkar is a writer, lecturer, journalist and political commentator ... Minority Rule is her first book. Show all. Books by Ash Sarkar. Minority Rule.
  59. [59]
    It's a myth that Labour has lost the working class - The Guardian
    Dec 10, 2019 · The way pollsters measure class ignores the the economic reality for young people, says academic and activist Ash Sarkar.
  60. [60]
    Why we need to pause before claiming cultural appropriation
    Apr 29, 2019 · The debate is a difficult one. Yet not every interloper is a colonialist in disguise, says Ash Sarkar, a senior editor at Novara Media.
  61. [61]
    The colonial past is another country. Let's leave Boris Johnson there
    Jul 10, 2018 · The past is a haven for charlatans and frauds; and politics is about claiming the terrain of the future. Ash Sarkar is a senior editor at Novara ...
  62. [62]
    Julie Burchill abused me for being Muslim – yet she was cast as the ...
    Mar 16, 2021 · The columnist has apologised for her Islamophobic insults, but the issue goes way beyond her, says Ash Sarkar, a senior editor at Novara Media.
  63. [63]
    Julie Burchill pays Twitter libel damages to Ash Sarkar - Press Gazette
    Mar 16, 2021 · Sunday Telegraph columnist Julie Burchill has agreed to pay substantial damages to Novara Media journalist Ash Sarkar after making defamatory allegations on ...Missing: lawsuit | Show results with:lawsuit
  64. [64]
    Julie Burchill apologies, pays damages to Ash Sarkar over Prophet ...
    Mar 16, 2021 · The journalist Ash Sarkar has won an apology and substantial damages from right-wing columnist Julie Burchill after the latter said her worship of the Prophet ...Missing: lawsuit | Show results with:lawsuit
  65. [65]
    Julie Burchill makes 'full' apology for racist abuse of fellow writer - BBC
    Mar 16, 2021 · The writer also agrees to pay substantial damages to journalist Ash Sarkar, who she abused.
  66. [66]
    Julie Burchill to pay substantial damages & public apology to Ash ...
    Ms Sarkar has won substantial damages from Ms Burchill and an unreserved apology for publishing false and defamatory statements about Ms Sarkar.
  67. [67]
    Julie Burchill to pay substantial damages & public apology to Ash ...
    Mar 16, 2021 · Ms Sarkar has won substantial damages from Ms Burchill and an unreserved apology for publishing false and defamatory statements about Ms Sarkar.Missing: details | Show results with:details
  68. [68]
    Communism Is Wrong But Don't Dismiss Why Ash Sarkar And ...
    Jul 24, 2018 · ... failures, at the cost of millions of lives. The problem with ... Even though the answer to that isn't communism, dismissing criticisms ...
  69. [69]
    Communism is hip again – but until it means liberty, count me out ...
    Jul 24, 2018 · Activist Ash Sarkar is promoting a revitalised 'fun communism', without the inconvenient history. I want a revolution I can dance to, not a cult of obedience.
  70. [70]
    Communism literally always ends in failure - CapX
    Jul 24, 2018 · As I have argued before on CapX, there is a whole genre of articles telling us to stop worrying about the past failures of socialism/communism, ...Missing: historical | Show results with:historical
  71. [71]
    Communism literally always ends in failure
    Jul 28, 2018 · As I have argued before on CapX, there is a whole genre of articles telling us to stop worrying about the past failures of socialism/communism, ...Missing: historical | Show results with:historical
  72. [72]
    Ash Sarkar's class war - spiked
    Mar 4, 2025 · But, for me, the far more striking thing is the book's elitism. Time and again, she seems to mistake working-class revolts – whether against the ...
  73. [73]
    Ash Sarkar, the Angry Elitist - Café Américain
    Sep 12, 2025 · Sarkar's excitable insurrectionism is cartoonish and vicious. But when faced with an actual insurrection, she identifies with the establishment ...Missing: broader disputes
  74. [74]
    Leftist Success Story - The Battleground
    May 12, 2025 · Founded by student activists in 2011, Novara Media eventually broke into the mainstream. Ash Sarkar speaking on Novara Media YouTube channel.
  75. [75]
    Book review: 'Minority Rule' by Ash Sarkar - China Worker
    Apr 15, 2025 · The book is a deep dive into the increasingly polarised public debates which centre around questions of identity.
  76. [76]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSqdkYOZac
  77. [77]
    https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/work-pay-and-benefits/employment/employment/latest/#by-ethnicity
  78. [78]
    Ash Sarkar in response to Douglas Murray "What do you ... - Reddit
    Nov 30, 2022 · Ash Sarkar in response to Douglas Murray "What do you want, for white people to get a vote on how many children Black and Asian Brits have, or who we have them ...Ash Sarkar's sudden rejection of woke and aggressive leftism - RedditDouglas Murray spoiled the entire “debate” with his “expert” argument.More results from www.reddit.com