Progress launches “Purple Papers” urging Labour to spell out tough choices before the election

Progress have launched a pamphlet called “The Purple Papers” (a nod to their Purple Book of last year), which urges Labour to spell out the tough choices that it would have to make in government before the election, rather than afterwards. The pamphlet says:

“Having a quiet life in opposition means having a miserable life in office. The best inoculation against such an eventuality is to decide, as a party, what risks we are ready to take and what fights we are willing to have. Clarity of approach will strengthen the hand of every Labour minister who tries to improve our public services…There is a question for every Labour member now: whether, how much, and of which of the people we like are we willing to ask something difficult or painful? Build a consensus for a decision, and the next Labour chancellor might be able to take it and survive the inevitable political pain of that choice’s downsides. Leave the argument until you arrive in government and they – and we – might  not.”

The papers examine four big themes – restoring economic growth; getting Britain working again; rebuilding public services; and tackling the ‘care crunch’ – and presents some of the options and choices the authors believe the party will face.

The Purple Papers have been written by Graeme Cooke (IPPR and In The Black Labour), Patrick Diamond (Policy Network) and Steve Van Riel (formerly of Labour HQ, now a political consultant). You can read the document in full here.