What is Progressive politics?

 Progressive European Party

I am asked on occasions what is the definition of Progressive politics. It is a good question and deserves some clarification. The word progressive in a political sense is easy to define. “improvement of society by reform. As a philosophy, it is based on the idea of progress, which asserts that advancements in science, technology, economic development and social organisation are vital to the improvement of the human condition.” To quote Wikipedia. 

The labour party in its origins of campaigning for the political representation of workers was very progressive in its day. Similarly, the movement for women to have the same voting rights as men were of equal importance. In today's political system the only party with an MP that could be called progressive are the Greens. 

The Lib Dems on the other hand just offer improvements to the political system that we have now. Just sticking plasters on a system that is now outmoded.

The Labour party is sometimes called a Progressive party when really they are offering a socialism which is a throwback to the politics of the past. Important in its day but no longer Progressive in its outlook.

Our party advocates amongst other things the introduction of a Direct Democracy. Direct Democracy is not a progressive idea if you live in Switzerland or Liechtenstein but it is here. It can be said that proportional representation, which I believe is supported by the Lib Dems and the Greens is a progressive policy, it is, but really it is just another way of electing MPs to the same system that we currently have without any real change. 

To be really Progressive our system of democracy needs to be transformed. What we currently have has had its inadequacies exposed since the referendum result that shows how inadequate it is for the modern world. 

So I would say that Progressive politics from the point of view of pEp would be the transformation of society and our political system to be something fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. 

Philip Notley