Consensus in plea for Labour unity as it unveils events programme

Consensus, the latest Labour group set up by MPs and activists, has revealed its first tranche of events designed to unite the party.

The “wholly non-aligned group” said the three seminars are designed to “develop ideas that unite us as a Labour movement”.

They will cover taxation, technology and the lessons of the global financial crisis.

The seminars will be led by Richard Murphy, seen as the guru of Corbynomics; Angela Eagle, the shadow Business Secretary; and Professor Anastasia Nesvetailova, who advises John McDonnell as part of Labour’s Economic Advisory Council respectively.

Rayhan Haque, one of Consensus’ organisers, said the events aimed to bring together different strands of Labour thought.

“Uniquely, each speaker will be making ‘arguments of consensus’ on their topics, drawing on the rich intellectual heritage and pluralism of the Labour movement. Labour only succeeds when our movement is working together, and thinking together, and that’s why this seminar programme is so vital.”

Jon Cruddas; Seema Malhotra, Stephen Kinnock, Sam Tarry, political officer at TSSA, and Momentum activist Beth Foster-Ogg spoke at the launch today, each discussing the need for unity within Labour.

Consensus was developed to tackle the “fractured movement” developed since the summer’s leadership election. You can read it’s founders aims for the group on LabourList here.