Article Sienna Rodgers by from LabourList
The organisation ‘Labour to Win’ – a joint project by
Progress and Labour First – has now officially launched,
described as a “new coalition of mainstream Labour
activists”.
The new coalition lists its objectives as:
-
Standing up for social democratic values
-
Working together to make Keir Starmer’s leadership a
success
-
Building diverse networks of new and
existing Labour activists
-
Training and educating the next generation
of Labour candidates, activists and campaigners
-
Campaigning for Labour candidates across England,
Scotland and Wales
-
Ensuring a strong, Labour voice at all levels of
government
The initiative of ‘moderates’ was first
announced the day after Keir Starmer’s election as
Labour leader in April, and the founders said it was a response
to his call for party unity.
It brings together Blairite group Progress and ‘old right’ Labour
First, which represent different traditions in the party but have
both been home to Corbynsceptics over recent years.
The umbrella group is intended to be a show of unity by the
so-called ‘moderate’ wing of the party – and also to help
highlight Starmer’s key messages of electability and competence.
Labour to Win now has a website where members
who believe that “the party must change radically if we are to
return to being election winners” can sign up to support the new
group.
Commenting on the launch, co-directors Luke Akehurst and Nathan
Yeowell said: “Keir Starmer is already making great progress in
turning around Labour’s organisation, with the election of a
dynamic new general secretary, and its standing with the public
through his competent and articulate leadership.
“But he can’t do it by himself. He needs a strong, broad, mass
movement of grassroots members behind him, as committed as he is
to changing Labour at every level and in every CLP to make it
electable again. We urge Labour members to join Labour to Win and
be part of that movement.”
Labour First, led by its secretary Luke Akehurst, was originally
founded in 1980 before being relaunched by Labour MP in 1988. It is associated with
the party’s ‘old right’.
Progress started in 1996 to support New Labour and the leadership
of . Its chairperson is Labour
MP , and its director since
August 2019 has been Nathan Yeowell.
