In a dramatic move that signals growing discontent within the party's ranks, senior Labour figures have launched a new internal network aimed at steering Keir Starmer's leadership back towards traditional centre-left values.
The group, calling itself 'Progressive Britain', comprises former special advisers, ex-MPs, and influential party insiders who believe Labour is making a "catastrophic mistake" by abandoning its core principles. The rebellion emerges just months after Labour's general election victory, revealing deep fractures within the governing party.
Warning of Electoral Consequences
Founding members have issued a stark warning that Labour's current trajectory could lead to electoral disaster within a single term. They argue the party's shift towards cautious centrism has alienated traditional supporters while failing to win over sceptical voters.
One organiser told sources: "We cannot simply become a slightly more competent version of the Conservatives. The country needs bold, transformative policies that address the fundamental inequalities in our society."
Key Concerns and Objectives
The network has identified several critical areas where they believe the leadership is failing:
- Abandonment of proportional representation commitments
- Insufficiently ambitious climate action policies
- Weakened workers' rights and employment reforms
- Inadequate housing and social care solutions
Progressive Britain aims to develop alternative policy platforms and build support among Labour MPs and members for a return to more traditionally social democratic policies.
Leadership Response and Future Implications
While organisers insist they are not seeking to undermine Starmer's leadership directly, their intervention represents the most significant organised internal challenge since he took office. The group plans to host events, publish research, and lobby ministers directly.
This development comes at a crucial time for the Labour government, which faces the challenge of implementing its manifesto commitments while maintaining party unity. The emergence of Progressive Britain suggests the battle for Labour's soul is far from over, despite its recent electoral success.
