United for Change

{{Infobox political party

| country = the United Kingdom

| name = United for Change

| logo = United for Change logo.png

| colorcode = #000000

| ideology = Centrism

| headquarters = 5th Floor Orwell House,
16-18 Berners Street,
London,
W1T 3LN{{cite web | title = United For Change Limited|url=https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/10912512-united-for-change-limited | website = suite.endole.co.uk | publisher = Endole | access-date = 20 August 2018}}

| website = {{url|http://unitedforchange.org.uk}}

formerly:
{{url|http://www.unitedforchange.uk}}
{{url|https://www.theunitedparty.org.uk}}

| founded = August 2018 (officially)

| membership_year =

| membership =

| position = Centre

}}

United for Change (UfC) is a British political movement, founded on a centrist platform.{{cite news | last = Henley | first = Peter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-45114902|title=Who is United for change?|work=BBC News | date = 8 August 2018 | access-date = 20 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/08/the-plot-to-stop-brexit/|title=The plot to stop Brexit|work=The Spectator|date=25 August 2018|access-date=27 August 2018}}{{cite news | last = Dunt | first = Ian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/09/uk-new-centrist-party-not-another-anti-immigrant-party-united-for-change|title=UK could use another centrist party, but not another anti-immigrant one|work=The Guardian |no-pp=yes |page=Opinion | date = 9 August 2018 | access-date = 20 August 2018}}{{cite news | last = Clark | first = Ross |title= Britain needs a party for the 'gammon' vote (blog) | url = https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/08/britain-needs-a-party-for-the-gammon-vote/ |work= The Spectator | date = 8 August 2018 | access-date = 19 August 2018}} The movement gained attention after fundraising through large donations from philanthropists and donors was reported.{{cite news | last = Zoe | first = Williams | url = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/08/being-middle-aged-is-like-taking-a-warm-bath-if-you-remember-not-to-care |title=Being middle-aged is like taking a warm bath – if you remember not to care |work=The Guardian |no-pp=yes |page=Opinion | date = 8 August 2018 | access-date = 19 August 2018}}{{cite news | last = Savage | first = Michael |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/07/new-political-party-break-mould-westminster-uk-brexit|title=New centrist party gets £50m backing to 'break mould' of UK politics|work=The Observer|date= 8 April 2018|access-date=19 August 2018}}{{cite news | last = Hughes | first = Solomon |url= https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/who’s-technocrat-behind-new-‘centrist-party’-united-change |title= Who's the technocrat behind new "centrist party" United for Change? |work= Morning Star | date = 10 August 2018 | access-date = 19 August 2018}} Although only launched in August 2018, it had reportedly been in the process of development for at least a year.{{cite news | last = Swinford | first = Steven |title= Plans for new centrist political party will "end in fiasco", says Lord Hattersley |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/08/plans-new-centrist-political-party-will-end-fiasco-says-lord/ |work= The Telegraph |date= 8 April 2018|access-date=19 August 2018}}

It has subsequently been rebranded as the United Party for its launch as a political party.

History

In April 2018, British press reported that former Labour donor Simon Franks had set up a company, the Project One Movement, aimed at potentially forming a political party and fielding candidates at an election. It received commitments of roughly £5 million in funding from founders, and was compared to En Marche! in France.{{cite news | last = Cole | first = Matthew |title= A new centrist party for Britain? Good luck with that |url= http://theconversation.com/a-new-centrist-party-for-britain-good-luck-with-that-94693 |work= The Conversation |date= 10 April 2018|access-date=20 August 2018}}{{cite news | last1 = Crerar | first1 = Pippa | last2 = Savage | first2 = Michael |title= 'A daft waste of time': Labour pours scorn on new centrist party |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/08/a-daft-waste-of-time-labour-pours-scorn-on-new-centrist-party |work=The Guardian | date = 8 April 2018 | access-date = 20 August 2018}} In August 2018, United for Change was launched as the political campaign name of the Project One Movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedforchange.uk/privacy_notice|title=Privacy notice | website = unitedforchange.uk |publisher= United for Change | access-date = 20 August 2018}}

In late August 2018, one of the founders of the movement Adam Knight left to set up his own political organisation.{{cite news | last = Elliott | first = Francis | title = New centre party splits before its launch | url = https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/new-centre-party-united-for-change-splits-before-its-launch-tj956f9pd | work = The Times |url-access=subscription | date = 31 August 2018 | access-date = 3 September 2018}}{{cite news | last1 = Gartside | first1 = Ben | last2 = Payne | first2 = Adam | title = Inside 'United for Change,' the new centrist party trying to transform British politics|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-simon-franks-united-for-change-new-party-2018-8?r=US&IR=T | work = Business Insider | date = 1 September 2018 | access-date = 3 September 2018}} He later voiced his support for the Liberal Democrats.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/centrist-party-founder-says-lib-dems-could-be-real-force-for-change-g8q2wl6xd|title=Centrist party founder says Lib Dems could be 'real force for change'|work=Sunday Times|date=16 September 2018|access-date=16 September 2018}} The founders of United for Change are Simon Franks, Dr Saima Rana, Alex Chesterman OBE, Richard Reed CBE, Ceawlin Thynn, Ryan Wain, James Woolf.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

Simon Franks has said he wants to make United for Change a grassroots movement,{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/united-for-change-hopes-to-win-power-with-volunteer-army-c3gpkhgv6|title=Centre Party United for Change hopes to win party with volunteer army|work=The Times|url-access=subscription |date=29 December 2018|access-date= 9 February 2019}} with the aim of launching United for Change as a registered political party just after Brexit.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tech-tycoon-simon-franks-seeks-unknown-to-head-new-political-party-united-for-change-r05vbss8x|title=Tech tycoon Simon Franks seeks 'unknown' to head new political party United for Change|work=The Sunday Times|url-access=subscription |date=6 January 2019|access-date= 9 February 2019}}

As of June 2019, it has reportedly scaled back its ambition to win the next general election as a new party but still seeks to launch fully as a political movement once Brexit is resolved.{{cite web|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/whatever-happened-new-centrist-party-united-change|title=Whatever happened to 'new centrist party' United for Change?|work=The Morning Star|date=10 June 2019|access-date=5 September 2019}}

United for Change

History

References

Further reading