Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: Later part – when the speakers actually talked about how they could co-operate

Q: Are there any other organisations that you think we should be working with on the Progressive Alliance project?
A: Anyone who’s interested, frankly, but I think this should be primarily a political project in the sense that the ultimate goal is getting a progressive government into power

Q: Is there anything you can do to help Compass to build the project?
A: Whatever it takes

Q: Where would you like to see the Progressive Alliance work go?
A: To a General Election victory. Everything else is details. I think progressives from ‘overvoiced’ areas should get out into ‘voiceless’ areas, as recommended by John Harris among others, and find out what their specific concerns are and thus what we can offer them that will attract their votes to the left

Q: What didn't work well?
A: Nothing! I even got free chocolate! I have so much love for you guys and I’m just ashamed that I wasn’t aware of your work earlier

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: The fact that it happened at all! and that a potential Progressive Alliance is now a thing and can be developed. I also appreciated the range of speakers that you had – all had something interesting and unique to say. Lastly the live stream was an excellent idea.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: Everyone was essentially saying the same thing but from a different view point and this is essential. There is never only one way to solve a complex problem.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: The speeches were excellent and inspirational. I thought getting comments from the audience, but NOT asking them to be answered was refreshing and a good way of going about it , although I think some people were expecting a response.

Q: Any other comments?
A: Just that I hope the momentum of this critical gathering will be maintained and multiplied. In 2008 the energy was lost. I strongly feel that this may be our last chance to avoid the divisiveness we have seen in Northern Ireland in previous decades spreading across the UK. Unity or bust!

Q: Are there any other organisations that you think we should be working with on the Progressive Alliance project?
A: Well, my main thought is the importance of reaching out to young people, who were so vocal about their concerns in the referendum. My daughter came with me to the meeting in London and she must have been one of the youngest people there. This was her first experience of a national political meeting but how many other young people are out there who could be inspired by knowing they could make a difference?! And my daughter is probably wondering what she could realistically do with her peers? (She is back in her uni town now)

Q: Is there anything you can do to help Compass to build the project?
A: In addition to the last response, I am a long-time campaigner on trade and environmental issues (mostly for Friends of the Earth International) and am particularly concerned that this is a unique moment to change the course of political debate in the UK to recognise the concerns of all those disenfranchised by the current economic ideology. I am a writer and photographer as well, and very willing to help, although my time is very limited by family commitments and having to earn a living. I would like to join Compass.

Q: Where would you like to see the Progressive Alliance work go?
A: An overall conclusion of the meeting was that everyone there needed to go home and start building the alliance at the local level. I totally agree, and I will be working with my local Green Party group that I have only recently joined, to do just this. We are planning a post-Brexit Progressive Alliance discussion with local Labour and LibDem groups in the next three weeks, and I am going to contact Compass directly to see what materials or other support you might be able to send our way!

Q: What didn't work well?
A: I thought it was fine. Vince Cable was a little bit tetchy about the ability of the groups to work together but that’s about it.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: I was very happy to hear that all the speakers were taking a positive post-Brexit position, rather than challenging the results of the referendum. I was worried that this might not be the case. I was a ‘(very) reluctant remainer’ myself, but I think the current situation, where so many people have voiced their discontent with the current status quo (a) cannot be ignored, the results of doing so could be disastrous and (b) offers a unique opportunity to move away from the stark inequalities generated by 20 years of neoliberal economic globalisation (as being driven forward both within the EU and the UK), and the prospects ahead of us with trade agreements such as TTIP.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: Having a wide range of speakers both politicians and others.

Q: Are there any other organisations that you think we should be working with on the Progressive Alliance project?
A: The Raymond Williams Foundation
The Democratic Society

Q: Where would you like to see the Progressive Alliance work go?
A: URGENTLY, extend into the north of England.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: I watched the YouTube video. I intend to use individual panel speeches to stimulate discussion and analysis in as many forums as I have access to in my personal network. Contributions from the floor were much less helpful. A real limitation of the event is that it was (of those in the room) only speaking to already existing “kindred spirits”. The real test is how we get a very much wider proportion of our fellow citizens to join in this discussion of an alternative route ahead. But I’m sure you already appreciate this. By the way, the same limitation may also relate to the new weekly newspaper – “The New European”.

Q: Any other comments?
A: I truly believe we can make this work if the will is there. I think it needs to be a bottom-up process and a community platform could help coalesce our thoughts into concrete actions.

Q: Are there any other organisations that you think we should be working with on the Progressive Alliance project?
A: Definitely. 38 Degrees, Citizens UK and Global Justice Now for a start.

Q: Is there anything you can do to help Compass to build the project?
A: Yes, I have a lot of experience in building community information-sharing platforms. I’ve begun work on one at pluk.org.uk, which if you like, could form the basis of a shared resource in building alliances together.

Q: Where would you like to see the Progressive Alliance work go?
A: Towards a snap general election with concrete alliances in place.

Q: What didn't work well?
A: Allowing the politicians to carry on speaking well beyond their allotted times.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: Allowing audience participation — this element could have been better channelled perhaps, with concrete actions suggested and voted on.

Q: Any other comments?
A: I’d like to see PA address the opportunity for Regionalism based on greater powers for local councils, bolstered by central government funding for our poorest counties. I want to see direct online local voting by ‘local referendum’: “shall we build a bridge or shall we build a school? Yes or no?” type of thing. I’d like to see us be world leaders in re-cycling, renewable energy, electric car manufacture, and re-build our ship-building and steel industries. I’d like to see our Defense strategy focus on intelligence and local defence, rather than our obsession with supporting US military agendas.
On a personal note (I know not that popular) and an internationalist (I’m a musician and linguist who works in an ethical business practice) I’d like to see greater immigration and commercial links with former colonies, and with Russia and China, as well as with our European brothers and sisters. I’d like to see every nation celebrate their differences, and be allowed to celebrate their cultures without being accused of being racist. I’d like to see more countries being encouraged to be more independent. I really don’t like the US-led global homogenisation agenda, or what the EU has done against poor peopel, poor countries, and against our Islamic and African neighbours.

Q: Are there any other organisations that you think we should be working with on the Progressive Alliance project?
A: County Councils – give them more regional powers, particularly in the areas of democratic voting, education, taxaxtion, local law, transportation, local industry. Also a campaign to introduce tax benefits to companies and large corporations who do good. It’s pointless just penalising them for doing bad as shareholders hold all the power. Setting up a new Bustoff (Business Standards Office) to act like an Ofsted for companies – then reward the ones who are ‘outstanding’. This will lead to a new politics, in which business leads positive change, and takes the burden off governments, who have failed over and over to address the issue that big business cannot help BUT to do damage to society. Their laws currently determine that they are beholden to their shareholders – what else can they do?

Q: Is there anything you can do to help Compass to build the project?
A: I have no money, but will campaign tirelessly for the cause of a new, democratic, representative politics.

Q: Where would you like to see the Progressive Alliance work go?
A: Fighting for PR. Starting a new party with John Harris as leader.

Q: What didn't work well?
A: A lack of detail about how to support the regions.

Q: What do you think worked well at the event?
A: John Harris. Feel like he speaks for me. And emphasis on proportional representation – towards democracy, and listening to those without a voice.