The ex-Green Party leader and for many years sole Green MP Caroline Lucas is set to become a co-chair of Compass, the progressive movement for a pluralistic politics of real change. The appointment is subject to a formal vote by Compass members at their AGM and by the board of Compass at the next meeting in March.
Caroline announced the news, while talking about the many challenges we face in this country at the moment; describing the time we live in as both a time of major opportunity and major threat. In the statement, Caroline acknowledged that the overlapping crises of nature, the climate and the economy have created a political crisis, which could be taken advantage of by Reform UK.
Caroline then states that this will be a threat to us for many reasons. These include being a threat to our standard of living, a threat to our nature and climate through the acceleration of the crises they are in at present, and with it the threat to humanity that greater conflict and disruption will cause.
It will also be a threat because of the proximity between Reform and the authoritarian regime of Donald Trump. Anybody not in the right-wing populist tribe will be made to feel that every second they live there that they don’t and shouldn’t belong to this Country.
Caroline also mentioned that we need to look at the causes to Reform. How can we give people hope in a better future and close the appalling gap between the super wealthy and the poor. I would also add that we need to close the ever-widening gap between the North and South within England and give our region the investment and the chance it has long been denied.
Who are Compass?
Compass is a well-established political organisation that seeks to bring progressive people together from any and no political party, to push for the kinds of evidence-based, compassionate, and realistic policies which could help to see the development of a good society in this country.
Having originally been a solely Labour organisation, Compass has broadened out over the last 15 years or so, to include members of a number of different parties, including Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and Plaid Cymru. It is presently campaigning hard for the return of the water industry into public hands, and for a fairer voting system.
More from Caroline
In her statement, Caroline also said that she was delighted to be joining the Compass Board as Co-Chair. She also noted that she would be:
“… working with Jon Yeung, the other Co-Chair, the rest of the Compass Board, the brilliant staff [team] and all of our partners and alliances to keep our work focused on how to change our democratic structures, political structures and systems so that we can change society.
“Jon will focus on building the organisation and helping the team turn strategy into effective action. My focus will be more external, being another voice for Compass and helping build relationships with other key figures in the progressive world.”
Good news
The accession of Caroline Lucas to the position of Co-chair of Compass is good news for all who want to see a genuine alternative to the kind of government we have endured for so long. It is good news for all who want to see progressive and evidence-based policies in a whole string of areas, including care, education, health, the environment, public transport and so many more besides, to not only defeat the threat of Reform, but also the causes of Reform.
Caroline is a person of great wisdom and integrity and hopefully her position as Co-chair of Compass will enable her to use her skill and experience to take the progressive movement further on, down the road to a good society.
To join Compass for a good society, please see here.
