Today we feel that rare emotion for progressives: the lure of hope. This is an exciting, tantalising, and daunting moment; not just for us at Compass, not just for all progressives, but for the whole country.

Andy Burnham’s remarkable victory in the Makerfield by-election– a race any other Labour candidate would have almost certainly lost – sends him back to Westminster with a clear mandate for Compass-style politics in his pocket. His stated intention is to champion many of our demands, as well as an entirely different kind of politics, to the highest possible level.

The reason we’ve been so willing to describe ourselves, at the very least, as ‘Andy Burnham-curious’ in recent years is down to his willingness to support crucial changes we have campaigned for for years. He has expressed his wholesale commitment to electoral reform, pluralism, a changed culture at Westminster, and the public ownership of essential utilities – including water. His alignment with our core campaign efforts leaves us excited and emboldened by what comes next. 

We’ve spent over 20 years advocating ways to make our society more equal, democratic and sustainable, and it feels like we are a big step closer to seeing this materialise. 

Our voting system has historically divided progressives. Here, we pay tribute to the Green and the Lib Dem voters in Makerfield who have lent Andy their support. In their droves, they recognised the chance for meaningful political renewal. We also feel the pain of parties not giving full-throated support for their candidate; the Greens, in particular, made a real sacrifice by holding back. There is now a moral obligation to ensure this is not in vain. Proportional representation must be delivered for the sake of the entire progressive majority. 

The Path Forward:

There remain significant questions to be answered going forward. As we’ve been keen to point out, Burnham is not the messiah – no one is. Our members from all sides of the progressive aisle – our Greens, our Lib Dems, our Plaid members, our SNP members and our unaligned – may rightfully be wary of any exaltation of a Labour figure at this time. In this moment, when Compass-adjacent politics is on the ascent, we must ensure that the political decisions being made benefit all progressives in this country. That is what a true commitment to pluralism is.

If there is to be a leadership contest for the Labour Party – and for the country by default – Compass will remain committed to championing the key aspects of a governance programme that will build a good society. On issues like immigration and foreign affairs, not least the genocide in Gaza, the government have been woefully wrong.

If Burnham becomes Prime Minister, this could be a major moment of renewal for Labour. But it is also a promising opportunity for the burgeoning Greens and consolidating Lib Dems. Compass opened up to progressives of all stripes in 2011 because we know that, without each other, we get nowhere. Defeating not just Reform but the causes of Reform requires the progressive majority to be activated, mobilised and utilised. This starts with a commitment to a particular form of proportional representation in the manifesto of every progressive party at the next General Election. Any Government that forms thereafter would have to feature all progressive parties in a new governing design for this multi-party politics. 

That is why over the summer Compass will be launching the Council for the Progressive Majority: a space where senior politicians and activists from different parties can work through how we cooperate before and beyond the next election. Now is the chance for all parts of the progressive movement to galvanise their forces, determine their red lines and open up dialogue to ensure we transform our political system.

Because this moment is bigger than one person, one party, one organisation or one institution. The future of our society depends on building an economy that works for everyone, public services that people can rely on, and opportunities for all to make the most of their lives. This is going to take all of us; not least to fight the regressive forces that will be ranged against any major structural change.

All of this starts with the realisation that it’s better to have 80% of the things we want than 100% of the things we don’t. Let’s not wake up in three years and realise we didn’t do everything we possibly could to avoid a Reform government.

Reform will surely do everything they can to win, especially after yesterday showed that their rise is not inevitable. The lesson the Right may take from Makerfield is to stop their infighting and create their own Regressive alliance. They may have been divided yesterday, but we should never bet against their ruthlessness and ambition. 

There are still many mountains to move. But every step of the way, Compass remains committed to bringing about the Good Society that we all wish to see. 

So, for today, let’s celebrate not just another defeat for Reform, but a real, significant victory for progressives. And let’s feel proud of the part Compass played in it.