Progress (organisation)

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Progress
Parent organization New Labour
Affiliations Labour Party (UK)
Website Official website
Progress is a political organisation linked to the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, founded in 1996. It is broadly viewed as supportive of the leadership of Tony Blair, a former leader of the party and former prime minister. The organisation includes a number of very prominent members of the TUC and has strong links within a select group of unions associated with partnership. Progress publishes a monthly magazine of the same name and occasional pamphlets, and organises conferences and other events. However, generally speaking members like to remain anonymous in order to promote their agenda.

Aims

Progress states it is "the New Labour pressure group which aims to promote a radical and progressive politics for the 21st century."[1]

Its aims are:

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.[2][3]

History

Progress was founded in 1996 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.

Lord David Sainsbury has provided substantial funding for Progress, contributing £2 million of the £3 million of donations and sponsorship to Progress from 2001 to 2011.[4]

Controversy

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."[5] Criticism of Progress had concentrated on the generous funding that Progress had secured from external donors, and on 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."[6]

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."[6] 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."[7]

Publications

Progress publishes a monthly magazine and a large number of political pamphlets.[8]

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 credit system in education, crime commissioners, directly-elected mayors and 'hasbos'. The Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, wrote a foreword to the book.[9]

Chairs and board members

Progress is chaired by former Minister Lord Adonis. Its vice-chairs are the Labour MPs Jenny Chapman, Julie Elliott, Tristram Hunt, Dan Jarvis, Liz Kendall, Alison McGovern, Toby Perkins, Bridget Phillipson, Jonathan Reynolds, Anas Sarwar and John Woodcock.[10]

Progress’ honorary president is former Minister Stephen Twigg, previously chair of Progress.[10]

Progress is constituted as a private company limited by guarantee, with a legal board of directors consisting of Jennifer Gerber, Jonathan Mendelsohn, Robert Philpot and Stephen Twigg.[11]

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.[12]

Strategy Board

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'.[13] The first elections were held in August, and the board is composed of three sections; Parliamentarians, councillors and members.

Current members of the Progress strategy board:[14]

Directors

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[15]
  • Jessica Asato (acting director)
  • Richard Angell (acting director)
  • Robert Philpot (current director)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Who we are". Progress. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  2. ↑ "About us - Who we are". Progress. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. 
  3. ↑ The Politics of Solutions (Report). Progress. June 2013. p. ii. http://www.progressonline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The-Politics-of-Solutions.pdf. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Kayte Rath (15 June 2012). "New Labour group Progress rejects GMB union 'outlaw' threat". BBC. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  5. ↑ Jon Lansman (20 February 2012). "Call for Labour inquiry into the organisation & activities of party-within-a-party Progress". Left Futures. Retrieved 24 July 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "New Labour group Progress rejects GMB union 'outlaw' threat". BBC News. 2012-06-15. 
  7. ↑ "Labour leader calls for rivals in party to end their squabbling". The Independent. 2012-06-23. 
  8. ↑ "Pamphlets". Progress. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  9. ↑ "The Purple Book". Progress. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Chair and Vice-chairs". Progress. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Companies House WebCHeck - PROGRESS LIMITED". Companies House. Company No. 03109611. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Labour appoints election director". BBC. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Progress Strategy Board Elections". Progress. Retrieved 10 October 2012. []
  14. ↑ "Results of the Progress strategy board elections". Progress. Retrieved 10 October 2012. []
  15. ↑ Marcus Dysch (7 September 2010). "New strategy for Labour Friends of Israel". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 

External links

Key figures
Political ethos
General elections
Government
Publications
Related topics
  • Book
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