Dear progressive parties: if we want a better government, we have to work together
Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Labour and the Liberal Democrats
Recent by-elections have shown progressives that we win when we work as one.
In Somerton and Frome and Selby and Ainsty there was a clear progressive challenger. The progressive vote spiked and the Tories lost two MPs.
But Uxbridge and South Ruislip should not be a Tory seat.
The fact it is is down to a number of factors - elections always are - but the fact of the matter is that this result is due to a tribal and self defeating refusal to cooperate.
The Lib Dem vote was more than the Tory victory over Labour.
If such tragedies are to be avoided at the next general election then progressive party leaders, and in particular Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Ed Davey, need to get their act together.
We knew that the Labour candidate supported democratic reform, so what purpose did standing a candidate at all in Uxbridge and Ruislip do for the Liberal Democrats?
We are calling on the leaderships of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties to get round the table with the leadership of the Greens and decide who is best placed in which seats to defeat the Tories.
This should form the basis of a one time only pact for the next general election, to win office and pass legislation in favour of electoral reform so that every subsequent election every vote is counted equally and the Tories cannot govern alone on a minority of the vote because the progressive vote splits.
Until we change the system, nothing of substance changes. Democracy isn't the only issue - but it is the first issue.
We need to tell Keir Starmer and Ed Davey that we support this shift to cooperation – and want it to be based on trust, a vision for the country and common progressive priorities - starting with building a healthy and modern democracy.
Sign, share and speak louder.
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To:
Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Labour and the Liberal Democrats
From:
[Your Name]
We've seen win after win made possible by progressive co-operation. In Somerton and Frome and Selby and Ainsty there was a clear progressive challenger. The progressive vote spiked and the Tories lost two MPs.
This is what winning feels like. And it happens when progressives recognise their common cause and work together.
But Uxbridge and South Ruislip should not today be a Tory seat.
The Tory Party has long attacked cooperation among progressives. And they have real reason to be worried: because it works.
We know we need to play the system to beat the system. But most importantly, we believe in co-operation for the greater good: to get a progressive majority government that will act on the pressing issues of our time, including electoral reform.
We also think that this co-operation should extend to all progressive parties, first and foremost the Green Party.
The Good Society we dream of can only be built on a good democracy - in which power is shared, dispersed and held to account.
So we say: don't hide from the need for, and virtue of, progressive co-operation. To win deeper democracy, greater equality, stronger public services and bold action on the climate crisis, we need more powerful alliances than ever before.
We are calling on the leaderships of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties to get round the table with the leadership of the Greens and decide who is best placed in which seats to defeat the Tories.
This should form the basis of a one time only pact for the next general election, to win office and pass legislation in favour of electoral reform so that every subsequent election every vote is counted equally and the Tories cannot govern alone on a minority of the vote because the progressive vote splits.
Until we change the system, nothing of substance changes. Democracy isn't the only issue - but it is the first issue.
We need a fairer and deeper democracy. We can only get it together.