Last year, Progress launched a major debate on Britain’s continuing progressive deficit.
The progressive deficit is centred around the notion that, thanks to large-scale inequality, an outdated constitution, poor public services, our estrangement from Europe and an historically weak economy, Britain was a long way from being a modern social democratic country when Labour came to power in 1997.
Throughout this year, we have held a series of events around the country to examine the challenges ahead. We have been to Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. In November, our annual conference will provide the final opportunity for party members to contribute to the dialogue. Keep up-to-date with the details of the event on the Progress website.
The dialogue has also taken place through the pages of Progress magazine. In each issue, we have focused on a different aspect of the deficit and possible solutions for remedying it.
We are also currently conducting a survey which will allow you to contribute to the progressive deficit debate. If you have not already voted at one of our regional events, a copy of the survey is in the next issue of Progress magazine and will also be available at our London conference. Alternatively, you will soon be able to download a copy of the survey from this page and return it to us at Progress by fax or post. Results will be published in January’s Progress magazine.
For more details about the progressive deficit, download a copy of Mind the gap: Britain’s progressive deficit, the pamphlet which launched our dialogue last autumn. With contributions from Peter Hain, Peter Mandelson, Douglas Alexander, Philippe Legrain of Britain in Europe and Dan Corry of the New Local Government Network, the pamphlet outlines the scale of the progressive deficit when Labour came to power in 1997, the progress made by the government since and the challenges that remain ahead.