More United
More United | |
---|---|
Founded | 24 July 2016 |
Headquarters | London[1] |
Ideology | Pro-Europeanism Progressivism Environmentalism |
Political position | Centre |
Website | |
moreunited |
More United is a cross-party political movement in the United Kingdom. It describes itself as a "tech-driven political startup" that supports candidates regardless of party affiliation.[2] The movement advocates public service investment, democratic reform, a green economy, tolerant society, and co-operation with the EU.
More United takes its name from the maiden speech delivered by Jo Cox,[3] a British MP who was murdered in June 2016.
Values[]
The movement says it will support any candidate from any party who backs its values and pledges to advance them in Parliament:[4]
- Opportunity: we need a fair economy that bridges the gap between rich and poor.
- Tolerance: we want to live in a free, diverse society where our differences are celebrated and respected.
- Democracy: we want you to have real influence over politics.
- Environment: we must do everything possible to tackle climate change and protect our environment.
- Openness: we welcome immigration, but understand it must work for everyone, and believe in bringing down international barriers, not raising them. We also want a close relationship with Europe.
History[]
Following the result of the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, in which the country voted to withdraw from the European Union, there was considerable media discussion concerning the future of the British centre ground.[5][6] Press rumours of a split in the Labour Party had occurred since Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader in 2015; this intensified after pro-EU members of his shadow cabinet resigned in protest of his allegedly weak support for the Remain campaign, leading to a leadership challenge by Owen Smith. The Conservatives also faced the prospect of an ideological split, as some pro-EU Conservatives feared the potential consequences of Andrea Leadsom defeating Theresa May in the leadership election;[5] Leadsom ultimately withdrew from the race, handing unopposed victory to May. Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, wrote an article in The Times accusing both parties of failing to provide reasonable solutions to the issues afflicting communities across Britain.[7]
More United was founded in July 2016 by a team drawn from business, academia, and politics: Austin Rathe, Bess Mayhew, Corinne Sawers and Maurice Biriotti.[8] They received support from cross party MPs, led by Paddy Ashdown.
Election campaigns[]
2016 Richmond Park by-election[]
More United voted to support Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney, who subsequently defeated the incumbent MP, Zac Goldsmith, in December 2016.[9]
2017 general election[]
On 23 November 2016, More United launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help support candidates. By 22 December, the campaign had raised £274,164.[10]
Candidate | Seat | Party | Announced | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amna Ahmad | Sutton and Cheam | Liberal Democrats | 4 May 2017[11] | 2nd | |
Rosena Allin-Khan | Tooting | Labour | |||
Kelly-Marie Blundell | Lewes | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Jack Dromey | Birmingham Erdington | Labour | |||
Liz Kendall | Leicester West | Labour | |||
Stephen Kinnock | Aberavon | Labour | |||
Clive Lewis | Norwich South | Labour | |||
Vix Lowthion | Isle of Wight | Green | 3rd | ||
Caroline Lucas | Brighton Pavilion | Green | |||
Ian Lucas | Wrexham | Labour | |||
Tessa Munt | Wells | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Gareth Thomas | Harrow West | Labour Co-op | |||
Ruth Cadbury | Brentford and Isleworth | Labour | 8 May 2017 | ||
Jane Dodds | Montgomeryshire | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Andrew George | St Ives | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Mark Hunter | Cheadle | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Peter Kyle | Hove | Labour | |||
Norman Lamb | Norfolk North | Liberal Democrats | |||
Alison McGovern | Wirral South | Labour | |||
Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Labour | |||
Anna Soubry | Broxtowe | Conservative | |||
Jo Swinson | East Dunbartonshire | Liberal Democrats | |||
Sophie Walker | Shipley | Women's Equality | 4th | ||
John Woodcock | Barrow and Furness | Labour Co-op | |||
Vince Cable | Twickenham | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 2017 | ||
Alistair Carmichael | Orkney and Shetland | Liberal Democrats | |||
Gloria De Piero | Ashfield | Labour | |||
Christine Jardine | Edinburgh West | Liberal Democrats | |||
Rachel Reeves | Leeds West | Labour | |||
Elizabeth Riches | North East Fife | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Jo Roundell Greene | Yeovil | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Gavin Shuker | Luton South | Labour Co-op | |||
Chuka Umunna | Streatham | Labour | |||
Chris Bryant | Rhondda | Labour | 24 May 2017 | ||
Daisy Cooper | St Albans | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Stephen Doughty | Cardiff South and Penarth | Labour Co-op | |||
David Lammy | Tottenham | Labour | |||
Sue McGuire | Southport | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | ||
Jonathan Reynolds | Stalybridge and Hyde | Labour Co-op | |||
Owen Smith | Pontypridd | Labour | |||
Jamie Stone | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | Liberal Democrats | |||
George Turner | Vauxhall | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Geraint Davies | Swansea West | Labour Co-op | 2 June 2017 | ||
Seema Malhotra | Feltham and Heston | Labour Co-op | |||
Sarah Olney | Richmond Park | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | ||
Emma Reynolds | Wolverhampton North East | Labour | |||
Tulip Siddiq | Hampstead and Kilburn | Labour | |||
Andy Slaughter | Hammersmith | Labour | |||
Mark Williams | Ceredigion | Liberal Democrats | 2nd |
2019 general election[]
(Please note it is not uncommon for More United to endorse more than one candidate in the same seat)[12]
Candidate | Seat | Party | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Louis Adam | Warwick and Leamington | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Humaira Ali | Bermondsey and Old Southwark | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Rosena Allin-Khan | Tooting | Labour | ||
Fleur Anderson | Putney | Labour | ||
Tonia Antoniazzi | Gower | Labour | ||
Alyson Barnes | Rossendale and Darwen | Labour | 2nd | |
Richard Benwell | Wantage | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Luciana Berger | Finchley and Golders Green | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Jason Billin | Rushcliffe | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Ben Bradshaw | Exeter | Labour | ||
Tom Brake | Carshalton and Wallington | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Ruth Cadbury | Brentford and Isleworth | Labour | ||
Lisa Cameron | East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow | SNP | ||
Alistair Carmichael | Orkney and Shetland | Liberal Democrats | ||
Wendy Chamberlain | North East Fife | Liberal Democrats | ||
Daisy Cooper | St Albans | Liberal Democrats | ||
Charlotte Cornell | Dover | Labour | 2nd | |
Mary Creagh | Wakefield | Labour | 2nd | |
Nic Dakin | Scunthorpe | Labour | 2nd | |
Geraint Davies | Swansea West | Labour | ||
Martyn Day | Linlithgow and East Falkirk | SNP | ||
Marsha de Cordova | Battersea | Labour | ||
Lynn Denham | Worcester | Labour | 2nd | |
Kishan Devani | Montgomeryshire | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Jane Dodds | Brecon and Radnorshire | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Stephen Doughty | Cardiff South and Penarth | Labour | ||
Rosie Duffield | Canterbury | Labour | ||
Rachel Eden | Reading West | Labour Co-op | 2nd | |
Paula Ferguson | Winchester | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Natalie Fleet | Ashfield | Labour | 3rd | |
David Gauke | South West Hertfordshire | Independent | 2nd | |
Andrew George | St Ives | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Stephen Gethins | North East Fife | SNP | 2nd | |
Preet Gill | Birmingham Edgbaston | Labour Co-op | ||
Mark Gitsham | Battersea | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Helen Goodman | Bishop Auckland | Labour | 2nd | |
Laura Gordon | Sheffield Hallam | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Ruth Gripper | Truro and Falmouth | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
John Grogan | Keighley | Labour | 2nd | |
Sam Gyimah | Kensington | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Oli Henman | Lewes | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Andrew Hilland | Lanark and Hamilton East | Labour | 3rd | |
Wera Hobhouse | Bath | Liberal Democrats | ||
Charlotte Holloway | Plymouth Moor View | Labour | 2nd | |
Kamran Hussain | Leeds North West | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Christine Jardine | Edinburgh West | Liberal Democrats | ||
Darren Jones | Bristol North West | Labour | ||
Liz Kendall | Leicester West | Labour | ||
Peter Kyle | Hove | Labour | ||
Ben Lake | Ceredigion | Plaid Cymru | ||
Peter Lamb | Crawley | Labour | 2nd | |
David Lammy | Tottenham | Labour | ||
Phillip Lee | Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency) | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Stephen Lloyd | Eastbourne | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Caroline Lucas | Brighton Pavilion | Green | ||
Seema Malhotra | Feltham and Heston | Labour | ||
Paul Masterton | East Renfrewshire | Conservative | 2nd | |
Martin McCluskey | Inverclyde | Labour | 2nd | |
Stewart McDonald | Glasgow South | SNP | ||
Stuart McDonald | Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | SNP | ||
Alison McGovern | Wirral South | Labour | ||
Catherine McKinnell | Newcastle upon Tyne North | Labour | ||
Beth Miller | Corby | Labour | 2nd | |
Ed Miliband | Doncaster North | Labour | ||
Anne Milton | Guildford | Independent | 4th | |
Layla Moran | Oxford West and Abingdon | Liberal Democrats | ||
Stephen Morgan | Portsmouth South | Labour | ||
Tom Morrison | Cheadle | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Tessa Munt | Wells | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Ian Murray | Edinburgh South | Labour | ||
Chris Ostrowski | Watford | Labour | 2nd | |
Jess Phillips | Birmingham Yardley | Labour | ||
Emma Reynolds | Wolverhampton North East | Labour | 2nd | |
Judith Rogerson | Harrogate and Knaresborough | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Antoinette Sandbach | Eddisbury | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Liz Saville Roberts | Dwyfor Meirionnydd | Plaid Cymru | ||
Gavin Shuker | Luton South | Independent | 3rd | |
Tulip Siddiq | Hampstead and Kilburn | Labour | ||
Andy Slaughter | Hammersmith | Labour | ||
Lisa Smart | Hazel Grove | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Alex Sobel | Leeds North West | Labour Co-op | ||
Chris Stephens | Glasgow South West | SNP | ||
Jamie Stone | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | Liberal Democrats | ||
Ian Stotesbury | Watford | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Wes Streeting | Ilford North | Labour | ||
Alison Taylor | Paisley and Renfrewshire North | Labour | 2nd | |
Gareth Thomas | Harrow West | Labour Co-op | ||
Chuka Umunna | Cities of London and Westminster | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Gerald Vernon-Jackson | Portsmouth South | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Karen Ward | North Norfolk | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Kate Watson | Glasgow East | Labour | 2nd | |
Catherine West | Hornsey and Wood Green | Labour | ||
Martin Whitfield | East Lothian | Labour | 2nd | |
Philippa Whitford | Central Ayrshire | SNP | ||
Emma Whysall | Chipping Barnet | Labour | 2nd | |
Max Wilkinson | Cheltenham | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
Hywel Williams | Arfon | Plaid Cymru | ||
Mark Williams | Ceredigion | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Paul Williams | Stockton South | Labour | 2nd | |
Phil Wilson | Sedgefield | Labour | 2nd | |
Munira Wilson | Twickenham | Liberal Democrats | ||
Sue Wixley | Putney | Liberal Democrats | 3rd | |
Sarah Wollaston | Totnes | Liberal Democrats | 2nd | |
John Wright | Southport | Liberal Democrats | 3rd |
Issue-based campaigns[]
Following the 2017 election, More United conducted UK-wide and online consultations with supporters to identify their priorities for the movement. The issues supporters identified as being the most important to campaign on were the NHS, equality and Brexit. More United has since selected its campaigns based on this information.
NHS/Brexit Campaign, 2018[]
In February 2017, More United launched a campaign to secure a Parliamentary debate on how Brexit will impact the NHS, arguing that the government has not given this question sufficient consideration. Thousands of supporters were mobilised to contact their MPs in support of the campaign, which led to 47 MPs from five parties submitting a request for a backbench business debate. That debate was held in Parliament on 22 March.
Campaign to restore the Access to Elected Office Fund, 2018[]
In April 2018, More United supported the launch of a legal challenge against the government, led by three deaf and disabled candidates of different parties, all of whom are also Members of More United. The focus of the challenge was to get the government to restore a Fund that existed from 2012–2015 to help deaf and disabled candidates of all parties, at all levels, with the extra costs of standing for election. The Fund was frozen and placed under review in 2015, but no findings from the review or a decision on the Fund's future had been published in nearly three years. More United launched a campaign alongside the legal challenge, with thousands of supporters signing a petition to get the government to restore the Fund.
This campaign received endorsement from 19 of the UK's most prominent deaf and disabled people, who came together from across the realms of business, entertainment, academia and politics to publish an open letter of support in The Sunday Times. The campaign also received backing from three disabled MPs from three parties. Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd and Conservative MP Robert Halfon co-wrote a letter to the Home Office asking for the immediate restoration of the Fund.
Convenors[]
In addition to its founders, a number of prominent public figures have endorsed the movement's launch so far, with the following being listed as the organisation's Convenors:[13]
- Josh Babarinde, social entrepreneur and youth worker
- Maurice Birotti, businessman and academic
- Jeremy Bliss, lawyer and entrepreneur
- Clare Gerada, medical practitioner
- Sunny Hundal, columnist and lecturer
- Anne-Marie Imafidon, social tech entrepreneur
- Martha Lane Fox, entrepreneur
- Gia Milinovich, writer and presenter
- Maajid Nawaz, author, activist and columnist
- Jonathon Porritt, environmentalist
- Luke Pritchard, musician and entertainer
- Simon Schama, writer, broadcaster and professor
- Janet Smith, former Lady Justice of Appeal
- Dan Snow, broadcaster
- , entrepreneur and philanthropist
See also[]
- Independent Progressive
References[]
- ^ "MORE UNITED LTD - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ Shead, Sam (24 July 2016). "Paddy Ashdown has launched a tech-driven political startup called More United that will crowdfund MPs across all parties". Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "Labour MP Jo Cox's maiden speech to parliament in June 2015 – video". The Guardian. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Our Principles". Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ a b Daniel Boffey and Toby Helm (9 July 2016). "Pro-EU Labour and Tory MPs look at forming a new centrist party". The Guardian.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) - ^ Matthew Turner (12 July 2016). "Here's why a new party of the centre-ground is doomed to fail". The Independent.
- ^ Paddy Ashdown (3 July 2016). "Parties fail to feed the public's hunger for a solution". The Times.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Richmond Park By-Election Explained". Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "More United Crowdfund". Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ Josiah Mortimer (4 May 2017). "More United name progressive candidates in line for share of £80,000". Left Food Forward.
- ^ "Candidates". More United.
- ^ "The team". Retrieved 18 January 2017.
External links[]
- Official website
- The Convention on Brexit - part organised by More United
- 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
- Brexit–related advocacy groups in the United Kingdom
- Consequences of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
- Jo Cox
- Organisations based in the City of Westminster
- Political movements in the United Kingdom
- Progressivism in the United Kingdom
- Pro-Europeanism in the United Kingdom
- 2016 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 2016 in British politics