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One week to Progress annual conference

May 5, 2012 9:34 pm

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Saturday 12 May, TUC Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

Next Saturday Labour activists and trade unionists from across the country will come together with members of the shadow cabinet, local government and trade union leaders and political commentators at the TUC Congress Centre in London for Progress annual conference to examine what the notion of a ‘new centre-ground’ means and how Labour can win it.

LabourList is a media partner and will be reporting live from the conference all day next Saturday.

Ed Miliband will be giving his first speech after the elections and taking questions about the results and his plans to build on the successes and learn from any defeats.

Other speakers confirmed include Progress chair Andrew Adonis, shadow cabinet members Douglas Alexander, Mary Creagh, Caroline Flint, Liz Kendall, Ivan Lewis, Stephen Twigg and Chuka Umunna.

Also speaking will be: Phil Collins, Will Hutton, Peter Kellner, Mary Riddell, David Aaronovitch, John Denham, Meg Hillier, David Lammy, Chris Leslie, Denis MacShane, Gisela Stuart, Stephen Timm, Andrew Harrop, John Hannett, Jacqui Smith, Joan Ryan, Kitty Ussher, Maurice Glasman and local government leaders Cllr Steve Reed and Cllr Sharon Taylor.

View the full line-up and agenda here

The morning sessions will focus on the question of, in a time of shrinking budgets, what policies Labour can offer that hold true to our progressive values and help the people we seek to represent. What does this massively constrained spending mean for welfare, public services, business and the role of the state?

In the afternoon the politics of winning will be the centre of attention. Does the likely success of Francois Hollande and Barack Obama suggest the tide could be turning for the centre-left? How will the results of the upcoming local elections, especially those in the south, affect the build up to 2015? And what should a modern union link look like?

To have your say in the debate, book your place at www.progressonline.org.uk/pac12

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

    LabourList is a media partner and will be reporting live from the conference all day next Saturday.
    So no critical coverage here, then…..

    • treborc1

       A New center ground, they love the world new, they have to have the word new in it so people can think New labour.

      And it makes me smile to hear Progress talk about the left, and Obama, we now have a party within a party.

  • Brumanuensis

    Whilst I don’t share Mike Homfray’s dislike of Progress, why do I get the feeling that this is going to be a weekend of people rehashing the Purple Book? 

    If somone seriously suggests adopting Milburn’s brain-dead ‘education credit’ suggestion – an idea so paralytically stupid that I had to stop reading for several minutes just to admire its idiotic beauty – I will type expletives in truly frightening volumes.

    • AlanGiles

      I think what is even more concerning is that Tony Blair has announced this week he wants to “re-engage” with British politics (perhaps the £500,000 a time speech gigs are running out?). He has even apppointed a new Communications chief: Rachel Grant will take up her role later this
      month, overseeing the former prime minister’s personal public
      relations.

      Why, for God’s sake?

      No doubt next year he will be propped up at the “Progress” conference, and apart from the fact this organisation is a pestential nusiance, it seems “Progress” idea of progress is to reheat the past via the ideas of a now totally discredited leader. Their members seem to forget how glad the party and the country were glad to see the back of him in 2007.

      • treborc1

         House of Lords anyone, is this the reason nobody has made the little chappie a Lord.

        Or does he see a safe seat somewhere for him so he can help the poor old chap in charge now, nope i do not think so but a Lord ship would be the icing on the cake.

  • AlanGiles

    ”
    Next Saturday Labour activists …… will come together with members of the shadow cabinet, local government and trade union leaders and political commentators at the TUC Congress Centre in London for Progress annual conference to examine what the notion of a ‘new centre-ground’ means ”

    And London will be in festive mood. I am sure the audience will be rivitted to their seats – it will be the only way to keep them in the auditorium. The bouncers will be chucking them in while the band plays “Tea For One”. I rang up to see what time it starts and they said “when can you get here?”. Music will  be provided by Jimbo Purnell & The Flat Cleaners – you may notice they play a little flat – where they come from they are not allowed  anything sharp.  Plus as a special attraction, for one night only, Caroline Flint and Hazel Blears reform “The Division Belles”, tap dancing with a smirk while they “rock the boat”.

  • Mike43

    Appalling organisation stuffed with Blairtie careerists stooges who would be just as at home in the Tory party.

  • Alex

    Unlike some other commentators, I’m delighted to be attending the conference and actually making a case for a Labour government in 2015, rather than stewing in my own hatred. Some of us would like to be in No 10 in a few years rather than raking over the sectarian vitriol some of you spout. 

    • AlanGiles

      Provided Progress don’t make the mistake of thinking the future lies in the past, and the danger is that organisation is stuffed with right-wingers who have no interest in Labour principles – just power, even if that means copying the Coaltion.

      • Mike Homfray

        I certainly want a Labour government. That’s why I am attending conference from our CLP. But I hope the next government won’t move too far along the Purple Book route which I think is lacking in both marination and substance. Localism without redistribution means institutionaliser inequality and Progress’ nervousness about the need for progressive taxation makes this a danger

        • Brumanuensis

          Enthusiastically second your point about localism, Mike. That was one of my concerns about the argument made in the PurpleBook. 

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