Red Action is a small London-based leftist grouping. They began following the expulsion of a number of activists from the Socialist Workers Party in 1981 for involvement in what was called squadism. Squadism being a term used by the SWP to refer to those of its members who were intent on pursuing physical confrontation with British nationalist groups.

The expelled activists regrouped around the paper Red Action. They found notoriety in their tactic of violently confronting "fascism" on the streets. They always had very close links with the Irish Republican movement (this being one of the sources of their original discontent with the SWP), and had very real links with the IRA, as was shown graphically when Red Action members were convicted of a bombing in London.

In recent years, Red Action have become more interested in the electoral process. They joined the Socialist Alliance in England and Wales in 1999. They left this organisation, however, along with the Socialist Party of England and Wales, citing the domination of the SWP over the organisation. They then went on to found the Independent Working Class Association, with which they continue to be closely connected.