Chuka Umunna teams up with Vince Cable and Tory peers for new think tank

[editor]

We already know that Chukka wants to ban desperate homeless people from squatting in industrial properties - Lib Peck, Chuka Umunna and Tessa Jowell demand commercial property squatting ban - but WTF is he up to now?

Labour MPs including Chuka Umunna have clubbed together with Tory peers and former Cabinet Minister Sir Vince Cable to launch a think tank covering business and public policy.

The group is a spin-out from Policy Network, which is synonymous with New Labour and whose president is Lord Mandelson.

The new cross-party initiative will be called the Centre for Progressive Capitalism and will hold its formal launch in the City on March 31.

It describes its mission as promoting “support for a more inclusive growth model” and will focus on skills, housing, finance and company governance.

In a sign of how former frontline political figures are taking on new interests in the aftermath of the General Election, the advisory board includes Umunna, the ex-shadow Business Secretary; Cable, his Lib Dem opposite number in government; Lord Cooper, the former director of strategy for David Cameron; and Stephen Green, the Tory peer who previously served as trade minister and, before that, chief executive of HSBC.

Chuka Umunna and Vince Cable join forces for new think tank | LabourList

 

[Pickman's model]

perhaps we should go along and ask him

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Mmm. Looks moderate.

 

[Gramsci]

The Labour List article quotes Policy Network ( a Peter Mandelson think tank) support of this new think tank:

The ebbing support for centrist politicians highlights how large sections of society feel they are no longer benefiting from our current economic system. This shift is impacting political systems across the world, with populist figures on both the left and the right making gains in the United States and Europe. Without a more comprehensive reform agenda to create a far more democratic and inclusive economy, this trend can only be expected to strengthen and prosper.

Against this backdrop, Policy Network is pleased to announce the launch of a new cross-party thinktank: the Centre for Progressive Capitalism. The centre will provide intelligence, develop policies and influence policymakers to instigate a more democratic capitalism, promote inclusive growth and improve levels of public trust in private sector business and the workings of a market economy. The centre will also function as a platform for businesses to discuss these issues.

Says it all really. Comment at end of the Labour List piece makes this point:

No sign of including representatives of workers or even people from organisations like the Work Foundation.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I have said this before, but why doesn't he (and the like) just fuck off and join the tories.

or as far as i'm concerned, they could just fuck off

 

[Gramsci]

So I take it Chuka is no friend of John Mc Donnell and his team of economic advisers.

Which include Stiglitz and Piketty.

 

[Gramsci]

I have said this before, but why doesn't he (and the like) just fuck off and join the tories.

or as far as i'm concerned, they could just fuck off

This revealing piece on Mandelsons Policy Network website shows how they think.

The "progressive" centre is losing out to the left and right across Europe. It does not cross there minds that there political project has failed/ run its course and something new is needed.

This is what they are worried about:

Meanwhile, in Portugal, cracks are already beginning to show in the motley coalition of socialists, democratic anti-capitalists and diehard communists that assembled following the country’s recent election. There is now speculation that the fragmentation of the historically dominant forces will necessitate a redefining of the party system itself.

The new think tank is part of the war against the dangerous rise of Corbyn. As they see it.

I do not like the way they put the xenophobic right with the left. As though they are part of the same problem.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

The new think tank is part of the war against the dangerous rise of Corbyn. As they see it.

not, of course, one of those 'divisive' groups like momentum...

 

[Gramsci]

not, of course, one of those 'divisive' groups like momentum...

Or Progress. A newly rejoined member of Lambeth Labour Party told me that Progress operate like a party within a party.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Or Progress. A newly rejoined member of Lambeth Labour Party told me that Progress operate like a party within a party.

Not "like a party within a party", as a party within a party. Oddly enough, there's nowhere near as much noise made about Progress's infiltration of all levels of the Labour Party, as there was about Militant's infiltration of local and regional branches of the party. We won't see any Kinnockian histrionics at Conference about this, the fucking hypocrites.

 

[Gramsci]

Chuka has a new Think Tank.

Chuka Umunna Will Be Paid £65,000 A Year To Chair A New Centrist Think Tank

Chuka Umunna Will Be Paid £65,000 A Year To Chair A New Centrist Think Tank

The Streatham MP said he would be spending 12 hours per month on his work for Progressive Centre UK. That equates to £451 an hour

 

[Gramsci]

'Centrism is back – and we have a new international think tank to boot'

Chukas view. Looks to me like The Third Way mark two.

Annoys me that this is labelled progressive. The Third Way failed.

He doesn't name Corbyn. What is even more annoying is that anyone who might support Corbyn left of centre politics is an extremist.

 

[Gramsci]

Here is the website for Chuka new progressive think tank.

Progressive Centre UK

Appears to be solely Chuka vanity vehicle.

Cant see where the funding is coming from.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Chuka has a new Think Tank.

Chuka Umunna Will Be Paid £65,000 A Year To Chair A New Centrist Think Tank

Presumably, as per the rules in Universal Credit, the £65,000 will be deducted from the £77,379 Chuka already earns by apparently working for his constituents.

 

[GarveyLives]

Chuka Umunna teams up with Vince Cable and Tory peers for new think tank

... now:

Chuka Umunna joins the Lib Dems after quitting Change UK

Interesting to see what happens at the next General Election.

 

[CH1]

... now:

Chuka Umunna joins the Lib Dems after quitting Change UK

Interesting to see what happens at the next General Election.

I think Chuka will not be standing in Streatham - so no local referendum on him personally.

 

[quimcunx]

So I won't have the chance to vote against him?

 

[CH1]

So I won't have the chance to vote against him?

You might - if Boris calls a snap election. But the rumour is that Chuka's deal with Vince involved a winnable seat nearer to Ealing where Chuka lives.