Building the coalition for change
The general election result in July signalled an appetite for change, loudly and clearly. Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge of a mission-driven administration with new priorities, providing a renewed sense of national purpose, clearly resonated strongly across the country. Above all, he promised to harness the power of partnership, working together with stakeholders to drive a more joined-up approach that will have a much better chance of delivering measurable, long-term change.
These are fine words, but as often in life it’s the detail that matters. In the course of our work at the Breaking Down Barriers Commission – which aligns with the Labour mission to Break Down Barriers to Opportunity - it became increasingly clear that businesses and other organisations weren’t just seeking new ways of doing things. Many already recognised that it was no longer enough to conduct their core business function well. We found aspiration to something beyond that - to being a force for good in a way that would change people’s lives for the better. That belief is also driven by an increased societal expectation, especially among younger generations, that organisations will be judged not just by the profits they make but by the good that they do. Nor is it enough for an organisation to conduct tick-box exercises - their social impact must be ambitious and authentic.
The Commission was set up in 2023 as part of the wider Purpose Coalition, to help redefine the role of business in society with a more strategic, long-term approach. With a growing membership and engagement across the political spectrum, it powerfully reflects a commitment by the new cohort of Labour MPs to drive the agenda for a more equable and fairer society. It was fantastic to see that support demonstrated at our summer reception, held in Parliament just weeks after the election, where businesses and parliamentarians came together to exchange experiences and discuss how they could move forward together. Some of those interactions are already translating into action and have the potential to produce really positive results.
At the reception, we also launched our second Commission report, Lowering Barriers to Opportunity: Current Innovations for a Better Britain, which presents the case for change and highlights the range of work members are already engaged in to deliver equality of opportunity in some of the most deprived areas of the country. It followed our first report published earlier this year, Breaking Down Barriers Commission: The Vision and Purpose, which set out why the current political, economic and social landscape demanded a better understanding of the structural challenges that contribute to inequality. It also called for more innovative thinking on solutions to drive transformative change and included a blueprint for action.
Those documents, alongside new data recently published by the Commission detailing the greatest barrier to opportunity in each parliamentary constituency, underlines how the Breaking Down Barriers mission is a thread which touches every part of government activity. The Purpose Goals we have developed identify 15 core barriers that limit opportunity, covering a broad range of societal and economic issues, from early childhood development to workplace inclusivity, from good health and wellbeing to extending enterprise. They also highlight the interconnectivity between different aspects of social and economic inequality, and how consideration of creating better opportunities for all is core to achieving Labour’s Missions for Government. The framework they provide highlights the need for a comprehensive approach by responsible businesses and other organisations, helping them to focus their efforts and share best practice in specific areas. They have already been adopted by over 100 businesses and other organisations, many of whom are also attending the Labour Conference to help shape an action focused agenda on improving equality of opportunity.
The Commission has an ambitious programme of events over the coming weeks and months. We will be holding a series of roundtables in Westminster from September to December – for businesses, universities and the NHS – to encourage members and MPs to discuss ideas and develop solutions in a collaborative environment. It is a continuation of the work we did in the months before the election to bring those committed to equality of opportunity together, forging the personal contacts and facilitating the frank exchanges of views that are vital if we are to move forward effectively. We will also be holding another reception in Parliament in December to bring people together again to celebrate our partnership in action, to evaluate where there has been progress and to identify where there are still barriers that need to be dismantled.
In the meantime, we will continue to encourage our partners and politicians to find common ground, focusing on a practical and evidence-based approach to creating genuine equality of opportunity. I hope that others will be encouraged to join us in building the coalition for change, as the prize of a fairer society and more productive economy is a vision that brings us together with a clear sense of purpose for the future.
