Progress political weekend

Workshops and seminars for Labour members to discuss the real choices for Labour that will deliver real change for Britain

9-10 March 2013
Stoke Rochford Hall, near Grantham
All tickets include meals and accommodation
£175 per person for Progress members
£300 for couples’ tickets
£90 for day tickets

With the midterm point of this parliament now passed, the Progress Political Weekend focuses on the challenges and choices a Labour government elected in 2015 would face.

Drawing on the debates launched by The Purple Papers, it will be a weekend of discussion on how Labour prepares the ground now for a progressive and radical government in 2015. There will also be training and workshops to enable you to play your part in ensuring a Labour victory next time.

From Friday 18 January, we are able to offer 10 more bursaries, with at least 5 for women, in addition to the 30 awarded at the end of 2012. The bursaries reduce the cost of a place at the weekend from £175 to £50, a reduction of £125. These places are designed to make sure that the weekend is accessible to as wide a group of Progress members as possible. To apply for a bursary, send a 550-word essay responding to the title:

What are the challenges an incoming Labour government will face in 2015 and what choices will it have to make?

to [email protected] by 12pm on Friday 15 February 2013:

In order to make these places as affordable as possible, we ask that bursary recipients be willing to share a twin room with another bursary recipient of the same gender if required.

Apply today
To apply for a non-bursary place at the weekend, please email [email protected] to express your interest.

PROGRESS POLITICAL WEEKEND 2013: AGENDA

– SATURDAY –

12.00 LUNCH
12.45 WELCOME SPEECH: Andrew Adonis chair, Progress

13.00 OPENING PLENARY: Two years to 2015: where is Labour at? Michael Dugher MP Labour party vice chair and shadow minister without portfolio

Followed by panel discussion with Joe Mann deputy general secretary, Community; Hopi Sen author, ‘In the Black’ Labour; Victoria Groulef PPC for Reading West; Chair: Andrew Adonis

14.30 BREAK

15.00 PLENARY: Real change for Britain: What are the long-term challenges facing the next Labour government?
Caroline Flint MP shadow energy secretary; Steve Van Riel author, The Purple Papers and former Labour party director of policy and research; Cllr Paul Brant deputy leader, Liverpool council and Progress strategy board member. Chair: Jessica Asato, PPC for Norwich North

16.30 BREAK

17.00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Writing a speech Kirsty McNeill, former speechwriter for Gordon Brown
How to get selected Richard Angell, Progress deputy director
How to be an effective councillor Wes Streeting,
Dealing with the media: Tom Price, former Labour special adviser

18.30 BREAK

19.30 RECEPTION: Hosted by John Woodcock MP and kindly supported by the BVCA

20.30 DINNER

– SUNDAY –

FROM 07.30 BREAKFAST

09.00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS [As above]

10.30 PLENARY: Dragon’s Den Switch spending: How do we pay for our progressive agenda?

Angela Smith MP, shadow deputy leader of the commons; Peter Kellner, president, YouGov; Joe Steer research director, BVCA. Chair: Mandy Telford Progress strategy board

11.45 BREAK

12.00 CLOSING PLENARY: Stephen Twigg MP shadow education secretary; Chair: Mandy Telford Progress strategy board

13.00 CLOSE

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From last year’s event: