Mainstream (political organisation)
 | |
| Formation | 6 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Private company limited by guarantee |
| Purpose | Democratic socialism Progressivism |
| Headquarters | 7 Cecil Road, London, United Kingdom |
| Location | |
Director | Mark Cooke |
| Affiliations | Labour Party Co-operative Party |
| Website | www |
Mainstream Labour or simply Mainstream is a British centre-left political network associated with the British Labour Party, co-founded by Open Labour and Compass in 2025 to reverse what it sees as Labour's "clear drift to the right" under Keir Starmer to prevent the rise of right-wing populism in the UK. Ideologically described as sitting on the soft left of the Labour Party, Mainstream describes itself as the home of Labour's "radical realists" and promotes a democratic socialist platform which includes the introduction of a wealth tax, lifting the two-child benefit cap and the nationalisation of key public industries.
According to its organisers, Mainstream is intended to serve as a broad-church for Labour's progressive left, ranging from members on the Labour left to party centrists associated with New Labour, rather than a political faction or caucus. Its membership is formed from a broad alliance of Labour politicians on the Labour left and soft left, as well as the more progressive elements of New Labour.
History
[edit]Mainstream Labour was founded on 6 August 2025.[1] It was co-founded by members of Compass, a centre-left think tank, and Open Labour, a soft left organisation in the Labour Party.[2] A month later, the network launched its founding statement, declaring itself to be the home of Labour's "radical realists".[3][2] The network said its main aim is to reverse what it sees as Labour's "clear drift to the right" under Keir Starmer, which it described as "wildly out of step with the majority in the Labour Party", by campaigning for the party to move back towards a more left-wing and democratic socialist platform, in order to prevent the rise of right-wing populism in the UK.[4][5][2] According to the network's organisers, Mainstream is intended to serve as a broad-church for the Labour Party's progressive left, ranging from members on the Labour left to party centrists associated with New Labour, rather than a political faction or caucus, though it has been described by observers such as George Eaton of The New Statesman as ideologically sitting on the soft left of the Labour Party.[2][5] It has been closely associated with Andy Burnham, one of its main founding members.[2][5]
Mainstream was founded ahead of the 2025 Labour Party deputy leadership election, and it is believed that the network is planning to stand or organise behind a deputy leadership candidate.[5][2] The group also plans to submit a motion jointly endorsed by Open Labour, Compass and Momentum at the 2025 Labour Party Conference calling for Keir Starmer's government to abolish the two-child benefit cap by raising £6 billion through taxes against the online gambling industry and banks, which would cover the costs of doing so.[2]
In September 2025, Mainstream coordinator Luke Hurst criticised the choice to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US earlier in the year in spite of his known friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Hurst said the appointment was the result of "[putting] your party faction's interest before your party and before the country", and called for "a government and party of all the talents and all the views".[6][7]
Policy platform
[edit]Mainstream's founding statement declares the group to be "the home for radical realists" within the Labour Party. It promotes a democratic socialist platform, which includes the devolution of power "as widely and deeply as possible", the introduction of a wealth tax, the lifting of the two-child benefit cap and the nationalisation of key public industries.[3] The network also criticises factionalism within the Labour Party and calls for pluralism.[3][4]
The network's stated priorities include:[3]
- Being an open, welcoming place for all Labour members and supporters to discuss the vision, values, policy and electoral strategy of the Party.
- Publishing and holding events across the country to generate real debate that leads to robust and ambitious ideas, policies and strategies for a democratic socialist future.
- Campaigning on economic, social, democratic and environmental issues that will defeat authoritarian populism at the ballot box and win hearts and minds for the long-term transformation of our country.
- Working to ensure the Labour Party is democratic and that the voices and views of all members are heard, respected and heeded.
Organisation
[edit]Mainstream is incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee. The network's registered headquarters are 7 Cecil Road, London, United Kingdom. It is led by a secretary and director, Mark Cooke, who is also the sole person with significant control.[1] It also has a national coordinator, Luke Hurst.[8] The organisation plans to hold elections for a council at an as yet undecided date, as well as 'events, activities and campaigns'.[3] The founders of the network plan to organise a grassroots campaign for "bold but practical reforms" in Constituency Labour Parties throughout the UK.[2][9]
Membership
[edit]Described as belonging to the Labour Party's soft left, Mainstream Labour's membership is formed from a broader alliance of Labour politicians on the left and soft left of the Labour Party as well as the more progressive elements of New Labour, with the network's organisers describing it as a broad-church of the progressive left.[5][2] Notable founding members of the group include Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Momentum founder Jon Lansman, Tribune Group chair Clive Efford, Blue Labour's Jon Cruddas, New Labour ministers Clare Short and John Denham, Tony Blair advisor Geoff Mulgan, Ed Miliband advisor Stewart Wood, Open Labour founder Alex Sobel and left-wing Socialist Campaign Group members associated with former leader Jeremy Corbyn, including Clive Lewis, Dawn Butler, Olivia Blake and Paula Barker.[5] The network also has the support of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock.[10]
Parliamentary Membership
[edit]In the House of Commons:
- Paula Barker,[3] MP for Liverpool Wavertree
- Olivia Blake, MP for Sheffield Hallam
- Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East
- Clive Efford, MP for Eltham & Chislehurst and Chair of the Tribune Group of MPs
- Chris Hinchliff, MP for North East Hertfordshire
- Peter Lamb, MP for Crawley
- Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South
- Rachel Maskell, MP for York Central
- Connor Naismith,[11] MP for Crewe & Nantwich
- Dr Simon Opher, MP for Stroud
- Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central & Headingley
In the House of Lords:
- Lord Dubs
- Baroness Healy
- Baroness Lister, Vice Chair of Compass
- Lord Whitty, General Secretary of the Labour Party, 1985-94
- Lord Wood of Anfield
In the Scottish Parliament:
- Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Mainstream Labour Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Adu, Aletha (7 September 2025). "Labour insiders form new centre-left network in bid to change party's direction". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "About". Mainstream. 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b "With Rayner gone, Burnham is on manoeuvres". The Mill. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Eaton, George (8 September 2025). "Andy Burnham gets a campaign machine". The New Statesman. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ Sparrow, Andrew (11 September 2025). "No 10 says Starmer found Mandelson's emails to Epstein 'reprehensible'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ Elgot, Jessica (11 September 2025). "Phillipson and Powell confirmed as final contenders in Labour deputy race". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Marr, Andrew (11 September 2025). "Civil war looms over this brittle Labour government". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ Mason, Rowena; Adu, Aletha (7 September 2025). "Senior Labour figures tell Keir Starmer to stop making mistakes". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ Eaton, George (10 September 2025). "The soft left helped make Starmer – could it break him?". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ @connor_naismith (6 October 2025). "I have today joined @mainstreamlbr" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 October 2025 – via Twitter.