Research Projects

Where next for progressives?

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Contact Email: a.hull@ippr.org

Introduction

In the aftermath of the general election and at a time of political ferment, a series of seminars at ippr tackled the most important political question facing us today: Where next for progressives? Each seminar was chaired by Tony Wright and featured a panel of experts. Summaries of the discussions are available below. A booklet will be published in the Autumn which will pull together the lessons from the series.

1. Reflections on New Labour - with Lord Andrew Adonis, Yvette Cooper MP, Lisa Harker and Carey Oppenheim (17 June)
Download a summary of the discussion

2. Progressive political economy - with Stuart White, Michael Jacobs, Adam Lent (24 June)
Download a summary of the discussion

3. Power and the new state - with Tony Wright, John Denham MP, Matthew Taylor, Dame Jane Roberts (1 July)
Download a summary of the discussion

4. Britain’s role in the world - with Sir Menzies Campbell, Prof David Held, Baroness Shirley Williams (8 July)
Download a summary of the discussion

5. Destination: where next for progressive politics? - with Douglas Alexander MP, Polly Toynbee, Nick Pearce (15 July)
Download a summary of the discussion

Background

The outcome of the election has recast the political arena. The era of coalition politics will require the integration of competing ideas while allowing new strands of thinking and political activity to emerge. The election also marked the end of 13 years of New Labour. Reflecting on its politics, policies and approach to statecraft will provide valuable lessons for the next phase of progressive politics.

A new direction for the post-recession economy is required, but how can we ensure that this is innovative, sustainable and socially just? The power relationships between citizen, society, market and state must be reconsidered, but what reforms are needed to see communities empowered and any new politics flourish? New Labour’s foreign policy was perhaps its most contentious, so what should we draw from it for Britain’s future role in the world? Answers to these questions are crucial to understanding the lessons of yesterday, and, in turn, how the progressive consensus of tomorrow can be built.