Introduction

With less than a year to go until the general election, there is a lot to do to ensure Ed Miliband gets into Downing Street. What do the recent elections say about the coming 11 months? Thinking beyond the campaign, what does Labour need to do next to ensure we have a mandate to change Britain? How much can we learn from Barack Obama and François Hollande?

Caroline Flint MP, Shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change;
Peter Kellner, President, YouGov;
Owen Jones, Columnist, the Guardian;
Atul Hatwal, Editor, Labour Uncut.

Caroline Flint MP - We will win hearts and minds article 

Peter Kellner - Reality check article 

Owen Jones - Time for hope article 

Funding and reform improved public services under the last Labour government. Ed Miliband’s Hugo Young lecture in February set out an ambitious Labour agenda for public services. Can Labour make similar levels of improvement while austerity continues and money is tight?

Stewart Wood, Shadow minister without portfolio;
Nita Clarke, Director, IPA;
Patrick Diamond, Queen Mary University;
Sunny Hundal, LabourList columnist.

Blair aide warns Labour over public service strategy - Ross Hawkins, BBC News, 31 May 2014 article 

Keynote address;

Media links:

Maliciously Distorting Immigration Debate article 

Umunna accuses Farage of distortion

Labour must take tougher line on mass migration from Europe article 

Labour will learn from much-mocked Shrinking Clegg election broadcast article 

With all the talk of governing coalitions, the coalition of voters needed to command a majority in the next parliament cannot go forgotten. What is the electoral coalition necessary?

Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow secretary of state for defence;
Margaret McDonagh, Former general secretary, Labour party;
Andrew Murray, Chief of staff, Unite;
Matthew Doyle, Communications and strategy consultant;
Lewis Baston, Senior research fellow, Democratic Audit.

A Progress annual conference favourite, Simon Fanshawe’s customary chairing will allow the panel to explore the resulting issues that emerge from the day’s debate and the challenges still facing Labour in the coming months ahead of the general election.

Stella Creasy MP, Shadow minister for competition and consumer affairs;
Diane Abbott MP, Hackney North and Stoke Newington;
Charlie Falconer, Former secretary of state for justice and lord chancellor;
Phil Collins , Columnist, the Times;

Articles:
Farage is deeply unpatriotic article 

Time to face facts

The dangers of safety first

How labour can win a mandate for change

A show of unity: Only hope or aspiration at Progress conference

Progress annual conference 2014: Labour slowly faces up to reality