Progress

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Progress is a 'New labour' pressure group founded in 1996. It says it 'aims to promote a radical and progressive politics for the 21st century.'[1] Progress also states that 'we seek to promote open debate and discussion of progressive ideas and policies.'[2]

The Progress team

As of November 2009 Progress is chaired by Stephen Twigg. Our vice chairs are Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, secretary of state for culture, media & sport; Chris Leslie, director, New Local Government Network; Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, secretary of state for energy & climate change; Baroness Delyth Morgan; and Meg Munn MP. Progress’ honorary president is Alan Milburn, the former secretary of state for health and MP for Darlington.[3]

Purple Book

In April 2011, the Times reported that a group of writers associated with Progress intended to produce a manifesto entitled The Purple Book, in imitation of the Liberal Democrat Orange Book:

The manifesto is a sign that the new Labour wing of the party is starting to reassert itself as Mr Miliband finds his feet. The Purple Book is being organised by Progress, the Blairite pressure group funded by Lord Sainsbury of Turville, the former Science Minister who gives it £250,000 a year (and has not donated any money to Labour since its current leader took over). Increasingly, Progress is balancing the power of the trade unions in the party and it is determined to flex its muscles on policy as vigorously as the barons.[4]

Circa 2006

Circa July 2008

Compass

In 2008 Progress organised a joint meeting with Compass (Liverpool: Winning a fourth term: what’s the road to victory? A debate about the future of the Labour party 04 July 2008 18:00 to 19:30). Speakers included Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Stephen Twigg, Chair of Progress and PPC for Liverpool West Derby, John Harris, the Guardian, Willie Sullivan, Vice Chair of Compass, Louise Ellman MP (chair).[6]

Donations

In February 2005 Lord Bhattacharyya donated £20,000.00 to Progress.[7]

External Resources

Contact

Website: progress.squareeye.com
Website: www.progressives.org.uk
Website: www.progressonline.org.uk

Notes

  1. Progress About Us, accessed 1 November 2009
  2. Progress About Us, accessed 1 November 2009
  3. Progress About Us, accessed 1 November 2009
  4. Rachel Sylvester, Purple and orange: united colours of coalition?, The Times, 19 April 2011, archived at Progress.
  5. Progress [http://www.progressonline.org.uk/content//uploads/2013/12/progress-international-green-paper.pdf Social justice, democracy and human rights: shaping a principles-based foreign policy: A green paper from the Progress Policy Group on Progressive Internationalism]. July 2008.
  6. Progress 'Liverpool: Winning a fourth term: what’s the road to victory? A debate about the future of the Labour party held jointly by Progress and Compass' 04 July 2008 18:00 to 19:30, accessed 1 November 2009
  7. Electoral Commission, Donation search, accessed 9 March 2015