Progressive Britain

Until 2014 Progress stated it was "the New Labour pressure group which aims to promote a radical and progressive politics for the 21st century."{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/who-we-are/ |title=Who we are |publisher=Progress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701232228/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/who-we-are/ |archive-date=1 July 2014}} From late 2014 Progress stopped using the "New Labour" label and rebranded itself as "Labour's new mainstream, aim[ing] to promote a radical and progressive politics".{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/who-we-are/ |title=Who we are |publisher=Progress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022134955/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/who-we-are/ |archive-date=22 October 2014}}

Its aims were:

{{Blockquote|Progress is an organisation of Labour party members which aims to promote a radical and progressive politics for the 21st century.

We seek to discuss, develop and advance the means to create a more free, equal and democratic Britain, which plays an active role in Europe and the wider world.

Diverse and inclusive, we work to improve the level and quality of debate both within the Labour party, and between the party and the wider progressive community.{{cite web |url=http://progressonline.org.uk/About_us/who.asp |title=About us – Who we are |publisher=Progress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013070402/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/About_us/who.asp |archive-date=2007-10-13}}{{cite report |page=ii |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The-Politics-of-Solutions.pdf |title=The Politics of Solutions |publisher=Progress |date=June 2013 |access-date=24 July 2013}}}}After the merger with Policy Network and reforming as Progressive Britain the stated aims are:

{{Blockquote|text=Progressive Britain is the new platform for policymaking, political education, and imaginative thinking to rebuild Labour and the Nation. Rooted in the Labour Party, we are dedicated to national renewal through the intellectual revitalisation of the UK centre-left.

Key to this is our re-dedication as a think-tank – and our ongoing work bringing politicians, policymakers, experts, and activists together to shape Labour’s next winning policy platform|source=https://www.progressivebritain.org/about-us/}}

Progress was founded in 1996[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725120246/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/ |date=25 July 2017}}. Progress Online (official website). Retrieved 1 October 2017. by Paul Richards, Liam Byrne and Derek Draper, the former aide to Peter Mandelson, as an organisation to maintain a dialogue with Labour's new leadership under Tony Blair. It has organised many events and conferences, and hosted several important speeches by senior party figures. Its annual conference has become a staple of the political calendar with many cabinet ministers and other leading politicians attending.

In May 2014 Progress dropped using the "New Labour" label, introduced by Tony Blair, for the Labour party.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-new-labour-consigned-to-the-dustbin-of-history-as-progress-drops-the-label-9333746.html |title=Exclusive: 'New Labour' consigned to the dustbin of history as Progress drops the label |first=Andrew|last=FGrice|newspaper=The Independent |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=8 March 2015}}

In February 2019, a group of MPs left the Labour Party and founded The Independent Group. All seven founding members of this group were members of Progress and regularly contributed to the work of the organisation.

On 16 May 2021, Progress announced that it was merging with thinktank Policy Network to form an organisation named Progressive Britain which would be "dedicated to the intellectual revitalisation of the centre-left" and "championing the revival of progressive social democracy".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/16/blairite-thinktanks-join-forces-in-bid-to-broaden-appeal |title=Blairite thinktanks join forces in bid to broaden appeal |last=Helm |first=Toby |newspaper=The Observer |date=16 May 2021 |access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://progressonline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Progressive-Britain-Launch-Statement-150521.pdf |title=Progressive Britain - launch statement |website=Progress |date=16 May 2021 |access-date=16 May 2021}}

Progress published a monthly magazine and a large number of political pamphlets.{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/pamphlets/ |title=Pamphlets |publisher=Progress |access-date=16 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929230150/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/pamphlets/ |archive-date=29 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Progress also published The Purple Book, in September 2011, exploring fresh non-statist policies for Labour. Authors included: Alan Milburn, Peter Mandelson, Jacqui Smith, Tessa Jowell, Andrew Adonis, Caroline Flint, Douglas Alexander, Frank Field, Liam Byrne, Ivan Lewis, Rachel Reeves, Tristram Hunt, Liz Kendall and Jenny Chapman. There were ideas such as foundation trusts providing GP services, a school voucher system, crime commissioners, directly elected mayors and 'hasbos'. The Labour Party leader at the time, Ed Miliband, wrote a foreword to the book.{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/campaigns/the-purple-book/ |title=The Purple Book |publisher=Progress |access-date=4 December 2014}}

Under the Progressive Britain name the organization has published research on Labour's electoral strategy,{{Cite web |last=Britain |first=Progressive |date=2022-04-21 |title=Thinking in Straight Lines |url=https://www.progressivebritain.org/thinking-in-straight-lines/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Progressive Britain |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Chris |date=2022-05-14 |title=Rebuilding Labour And The Nation: May 2022 |url=https://www.progressivebritain.org/rebuilding-labour-and-the-nation-may-2022/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Progressive Britain |language=en-GB}} business regulation,{{Cite web |last=Bevington |first=Matt |date=2023-07-11 |title=Rebuilding the Regulatory Ecosystem |url=https://www.progressivebritain.org/rebuilding-the-regulatory-ecosystem/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Progressive Britain |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Dyson |first=Andrew |date=2022-11-24 |title=The Role of Modern Government |url=https://www.progressivebritain.org/the-role-of-modern-government/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Progressive Britain |language=en-GB}} and the future of work.{{Cite web |last=Pakes |first=Frederick Harry Pitts & Andrew |date=2023-10-20 |title=A Progressive Politics of Work for the Age of Unpeace |url=https://www.progressivebritain.org/a-progressive-politics-of-work-for-the-age-of-unpeace/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Progressive Britain |language=en-GB}} It publishes a regular current affairs and Labour Party centred blog.

Historically, Progress had little connection with Labour First, an older Labour party factional organisation on the right of the Labour party.{{cite web |url=http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2017/02/13/the-problem-with-the-labour-right|title=The problem with the Labour Right|publisher=labouruncut.co.uk}} The rise of Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum in the Labour Party saw Progress and Labour First, while remaining distinct organisations with different traditions, carry out more joint activities, including joint endorsement of candidates in internal party elections.{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/11/22/joint-nec-slate-with-labour-first-announced/|title=Joint NEC slate with Labour First announced|work=Progress |date=22 November 2011 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/10/labour-s-warring-factions-who-do-they-include-and-what-are-they-fighting |title=Labour's warring factions: who do they include and what are they fighting over? |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |newspaper=New Statesman |date=23 October 2015 |access-date=21 July 2019}}

During the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Labour First formed a joint venture with Progress called Reclaiming Labour, holding meetings around the country analysing why Labour lost heavily in the 2019 general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.reclaiminglabour.org/|title=Reclaiming Labour|publisher=reclaiminglabour.org}}

In April 2020, immediately on the election of Keir Starmer as party leader, Labour First and Progress launched jointly a new umbrella organisation called Labour to Win, with goals including 'to bring about fundamental change in the party's culture and organisation'.{{cite news|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/04/progress-and-labour-first-launch-labour-to-win-umbrella-organisation/|title=Progress and Labour First launch 'Labour to Win' umbrella organisation|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|date=5 April 2020|access-date=5 April 2020|work=Labour List}}

Labour to Win endorsed candidates in the 2020 Labour National Executive Committee elections, however owing to the newly adopted Single transferable vote nature of the elections, and in the spirit of electing a pluralisitic NEC, the organisation chose only to endorse six of its own candidates and also to endorse three candidates politically more to the left than Labour To Win but who had a commitment to broad church Labour politics.{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2020/07/labour-to-win-unveils-pluralistic-set-of-nec-candidate-recommendations/ |title=Labour to Win unveils "pluralistic" set of NEC candidate recommendations |last=Rodgers |first=Sienna |date=1 July 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020|work=Labour List}}

Data from the Electoral Commission shows that between 2001 and August 2019, Progress received almost £4.7 million in donations.{{Cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Search/Donations?currentPage=1&rows=10&query=progress&sort=AcceptedDate&order=desc&tab=1&open=filter&et=pp&et=ppm&et=tp&et=perpar&et=rd&isIrishSourceYes=true&isIrishSourceNo=true&prePoll=false&postPoll=true®ister=gb®ister=ni®ister=none&optCols=Register&optCols=CampaigningName&optCols=AccountingUnitsAsCentralParty&optCols=IsSponsorship&optCols=IsIrishSource&optCols=RegulatedDoneeType&optCols=CompanyRegistrationNumber&optCols=Postcode&optCols=NatureOfDonation&optCols=PurposeOfVisit&optCols=DonationAction&optCols=ReportedDate&optCols=IsReportedPrePoll&optCols=ReportingPeriodName&optCols=IsBequest&optCols=IsAggregation|title=Search - The Electoral Commission|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk|access-date=2019-08-28}} Of this £3.5 million came from Lord Sainsbury of Turville, who stopped funding Progress in 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/23/uks-biggest-political-donor-lord-sainsbury-to-end-his-contributions|title=UK's biggest political donor, Lord Sainsbury, to end his contributions|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=2017-06-23|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} Another source reported that Sainsbury had contributed £2 million of the £3 million of donations and sponsorship to Progress from 2001 to 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18445895 |title=New Labour group Progress rejects GMB union 'outlaw' threat |first=Kayte|last= Rath |publisher=BBC |date=15 June 2012 |access-date=16 June 2012}} In 2014 Progress was fined £6,000 by the Electoral Commission for accepting donations of £390,000 from Sainsbury while he was not on a UK electoral register, between December 2011 and April 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26170777|title=Sainsbury-backed Labour groups fined by Electoral Commission|date=13 February 2014|access-date=12 November 2014|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/electoral-commission-fines-progress-ltd-and-movement-for-change-failure-to-return-impermissible-donations|title=Electoral Commission fines Progress Ltd and Movement for Change – failure to return impermissible donations|date=13 February 2014|publisher=Electoral Commission|access-date=8 January 2015}} During 2016 he had donated £260,000. Following the 2017 general election Sainsbury announced he would no longer provide financial backing to Progress.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/23/uks-biggest-political-donor-lord-sainsbury-to-end-his-contributions |title=UK's biggest political donor, Lord Sainsbury, to end his contributions |last=Stewart |first=Heather |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 June 2017 |access-date=23 June 2017}}

The second largest donor to Progress during this period is listed by the Electoral Commission as a "Permissible Donor Exempt Trust" set up in the name of Lord Montague of Oxford, which made donations to Progress for two years following his death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/03/labour-party-within-progress|title=Progress has become a party within a party|first=Michael|last=Meacher|website=www.newstatesman.com|language=en|date=15 March 2012|access-date=2019-08-28}}

The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association has given Progress £57,000.

It was reported in 2012 that Progress had received more money than both the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, and that it had received more than 122 times more funding than any other members' association within the Labour Party. This level of funding has led to accusations that Progress is operating as a "party within a party".

In 2012, Progress was at the centre of the debate over the direction of the Labour Party under Ed Miliband, after a widely circulated anonymous report called for Labour's national executive to "determine the organisational nature of Progress, and whether or not this form of organisation is acceptable inside the Labour Party."{{cite web |url=http://www.leftfutures.org/2012/02/call-for-labour-inquiry-into-the-organisation-activities-of-party-within-a-party-progress/ |title=Call for Labour inquiry into the organisation & activities of party-within-a-party Progress |first=Jon|last= Lansman |publisher=Left Futures |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=24 July 2013}} Criticism of Progress had concentrated on the generous funding that Progress had secured from external donors, and on its positioning, regarded as being on the right of the Labour Party. Following circulation of the report, the GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny led calls at the 2012 Labour conference for Progress to be "effectively… (outlawed)…as part of the Labour Party."{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18445895 |title=New Labour group Progress rejects GMB union 'outlaw' threat |work=BBC News |date=15 June 2012}} In response, a Labour Party statement said, "We are a party that is reaching out to people, gaining new supporters and offering real change for the country in these tough times. The Labour Party is a broad church and we are not in the business of excluding people." Labour leader Ed Miliband was also clearly in support, telling The Independent that "I believe in an open and inclusive party, reaching out to people, not for pushing people away. That certainly does not mean excluding or proscribing organisations like Progress which contribute to the debate."{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leader-calls-for-rivals-in-party-to-end-their-squabbling-7876855.html |title=Labour leader calls for rivals in party to end their squabbling |first=Andrew|last=Grice|newspaper=The Independent |date=23 June 2012}}

In 2013, Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the Union, claimed Progress was manipulating the selection procedures for Labour parliamentary candidates to get its candidates selected. Progress responded: "Progress helps to train and mentor candidates going for selection, to whom we do not give money. The details are open, plainly explained on our website and approved by a strategy board elected by our members."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/jul/08/blairites-labour-len-mccluskey |title='Blairites manipulating Labour selection process' – Len McCluskey hits back |first=Rajeev|last= Syal |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 July 2013 |access-date=14 February 2016}}

Progress was chaired by Alison McGovern in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/10/30/no-one-can-sit-on-their-laurels/ |title=No one can sit on their laurels |first=Sally |last=Gimson |publisher=Progress Online |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095818/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/10/30/no-one-can-sit-on-their-laurels/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=dead }} In 2014 its vice-chairs were the Labour MPs Jenny Chapman, Stephen Doughty, Julie Elliott, Tristram Hunt, Dan Jarvis, Liz Kendall, Seema Malhotra, Toby Perkins, Lucy Powell, Steve Reed, Jonathan Reynolds and Nick Smith.{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/chair-patrons/ |title=Chair and Vice-chairs |work=Progress |access-date=4 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201175739/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/chair-patrons/ |archive-date=1 December 2014}}

Progress's honorary president was former Minister Stephen Twigg, previously the organization's chair.

Progress was constituted as a private company limited by guarantee, with a legal board of directors in 2012 consisting of Jennifer Gerber, Jonathan Mendelsohn, Robert Philpot and Stephen Twigg.{{cite web |url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |title=Companies House WebCHeck – Progress Limited |id=Company No. 03109611 |publisher=Companies House |access-date=16 June 2012}}

Prior to 2015 Progress was chaired by MP John Woodcock, and prior to 2014 by former Minister Lord Adonis.{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/chair-patrons/ |title=Chair and Vice-chairs |work=Progress |access-date=16 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612211024/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/about-progress/chair-patrons/ |archive-date=12 June 2012}} Prior to 2012 Progress was chaired by MP and former Minister Stephen Twigg, and the honorary president was Alan Milburn, the former Secretary of State for Health. Jonathan Mendelsohn was treasurer of Progress.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6938243.stm |title=Labour appoints election director |publisher=BBC |date=9 August 2007 |access-date=17 June 2012}}

Progress announced the creation of the first strategy board in July 2012, to enable the organisation's 'growing membership to feel a true sense of engagement'.{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/progress-strategy-board-election-process/ |title=Progress Strategy Board Elections |publisher=Progress |access-date=10 October 2012}} The first elections were held in August 2012. The final elections were held in 2016 and after this, under the Progressive Britain name, the strategy board was discontinued.

The final members of the Progress strategy board were:{{cite web |title=Strategy Board |url=http://progressonline.org.uk/strategy-board/ |website=Progress Online |access-date=16 May 2020}}

• Alison McGovern MP (chair)
• Gloria De Piero
• Peter Mandelson
• Phil Wilson
• Rachael Saunders
• James Beckles
• Jonathan Hawkes
• Joanne Harding
• Rachael Saunders
• Christabel Cooper
• Sheila Gilmore
• John Hannett
• Mary Wimbury
• Liron Velleman

Since its inception Progress has had a number of operational directors:

• Derek Draper (former aide to Peter Mandelson)
• Darren Murphy (former Special Adviser)
• Patrick Diamond (former Special Adviser)
• Jennifer Gerber{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/37979/new-strategy-labour-friends-israel |title=New strategy for Labour Friends of Israel |first=Marcus|last= Dysch |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |date=7 September 2010 |access-date=16 June 2012}}
• Jess Asato (acting director)
• Robert Philpot (retired October 2014)
• Richard Angell (2014–2018){{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2018/12/03/10-years-and-a-new-chapter/ |title=10 years and a new chapter |last=Angell |first=Richard |work=Progress |date=3 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018}}
• Nathan Yeowell (August 2019 – October 2023)
• Adam Langleben (October 2023 – present)

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

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Category:Labour Party (UK) factions

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Category:1996 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Organisations associated with the Labour Party (UK)

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Category:Progressivism in the United Kingdom

Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom