Open Left is about rediscovering the Left's idealism, pluralism and appetite for radical ideas. It starts by asking an essential, but contested question: what does it mean to be on the Left today?

Open Left is a three-year project to renew the ideas and thinking of the Left through open debate and new policy ideas.  Led by James Purnell MP, the project will aim to redefine leftwing politics for the twenty-first century.  It will seek to link with movements on the Left at home and abroad to promote pluralism and collaboration.  

To kick off the debate, the project has asked ten leading left-wing figures to answer six questions about political motivations and beliefs that go to heart of what it means to be on the Left.  Polly Toynbee, Jon Cruddas MP and Frances O'Grady are among the first contributors.  All of the responses are published on the Open Left forum at www.openleft.co.uk.  We hope to provoke a lively debate across the family of the Left, so come and read what others have said and tell us what you think the Left should stand for and where it should go next. 

Open Left was launched on 20 July 2009 at the Commonwealth Club.  The launch featured a discussion between James Purnell MP; Jon Cruddas, MP; Will Hutton, Work Foundation; Jess Search, Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation and Lewis Iwu, former head of the Oxford Student Union.

www.openleft.co.uk

Read Graeme Cooke writing for Left Foot Forward.