Anthony Slaughter: The punk pioneer making Senedd history for the Greens

"Slaughter, who takes one of two Green seats in the Senedd, was the singer in a South African punk band, Riot Squad SA, who were the first-ever band from the country to release a punk record in the UK. The anti-apartheid campaigner came to the UK in the 1980s to avoid conscription to the "apartheid army" where he became part of the "anarchist squatting scene"."

"He says his party would freeze rent for a year before giving councils powers to apply caps on what tenants pay. He also pledged to cap bus fares to 1 for most people, with free travel for under 22s and to replace council tax. It will be interesting to see if any these policies become part of any talks about supporting Plaid Cymru."

"Born in Yorkshire in 1962, Slaughter emigrated as a child first to Australia and then South Africa. Slaughter says growing up in apartheid South Africa gave him "a real grounding in what politics is and what power is about". It was while living in Cape Town he formed the punk rock band Riot Squad SA."

"Aligning themselves with the anti-apartheid movement, they released the 7" vinyl EP "Total Onslaught". This went on to be banned by the South African authorities but was later released in the UK and Europe. A big fan of The Clash, citing songs such as Clampdown as influences, Slaughter also likes reggae with Two Sevens Clash by Culture being one of his favourites."

Anthony Slaughter became a Green Party representative in the Welsh Parliament for the first time in the party’s history, taking one of two Green seats in the Senedd. He previously sang in a South African punk band, Riot Squad SA, which released the first-ever South African punk record in the UK. He moved to the UK in the 1980s to avoid conscription to the apartheid army and became involved in an anarchist squatting scene in Hackney. He credits his politics to experiences in apartheid South Africa, the miners’ strike, and the poll tax. He pledged to freeze rent for a year, give councils powers to cap tenant payments, cap bus fares to £1 for most people, provide free travel for under 22s, and replace council tax.

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