Labour pressure group Progress announces shakeup after union attacks

A leading New Labour pressure group has announced a shakeup in an an attempt to "draw a line" under a public spat with unions that have accused it of being run as a secret organisation within the Labour party, bereft of democratic accountability. Progress decided to act after being stung by a recent volley of criticism from heavyweight unions who view it as a "neo-liberal" organisation and are concerned at its level of influence over the policy direction of the party. In a statement, Progress said that the "serious allegations" made contained "gross misrepresentation". It said it was keen to respond to concerns and correct misapprehensions as it announced a number of changes to become more transparent, including greater disclosure of donors and sponsors and a more democratic governance structure. The statement said: "We hope that our announcement today will draw a line under the debate about Progress's role in the party. We continue to believe that Labour is at its best when it is broad, pluralist and welcomes all to its ranks. We intend to press ahead with our primary purpose: returning a Labour government under Ed Miliband in 2015. We trust that others will do the same." The changes were announced in the wake of a recent pledge by the GMB union to "outlaw" Progress and to lodge a motion against the organisation to this effect at the party's annual conference in September. Speaking at the GMB annual conference last month, Paul Kenny, the union's general secretary, said: "[Progress is] a party within a party, funded by external interests. An influence we will not support. It is intolerable that they should act in that way within our Labour party." Progress is chaired by the former cabinet minister Lord Adonis, and its president is Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary who is also one of the four directors at Progress Ltd. Lord Sainsbury of Turville, one of Tony Blair's biggest champions and a major donor to the Labour party until Miliband took over the leadership reins, has been Progress's biggest funder since it was set up in 1996. He increased his £250,000 a year donation to £260,000 from April 2010, and provided the bulk of the thinktank's income of £368,598 in 2010-2011. In a statement on its website , Progress stresses it has always campaigned "for an inclusive, tolerant and outward-looking Labour party, focused on the needs and aspirations of the British people". Progress, which describes itself as an independent organisation of Labour party members and trade unionists, said the measures were intended to ensure members' confidence "in their organisation's work, its openness and transparency". Changes outlined include: • The publication on its website of all sponsorship or donations over the sum of £5,000 from 1 October, within 28 days of receipt. (The thinktank says it already publishes its annual income for the most recent financial year, the declarations made to the Electoral Commission for the current financial year, and the names of all sponsors and partners it has worked with during that financial year.) • The publication of its annual membership figure from 1 August; the publication of the names of its company directors on its website from Tuesday, with any changes updated on the site as well as Companies House; "unabbreviated accounts" to be filed at Companies House from 2011-2012 and linked from the website. • An online statement on the "limited training and mentoring role Progress plays in local government and parliamentary selection processes". • The setting up of a new strategy board from October made up of members elected by the membership and parliamentarians and councillors who are members of Progress. This board will approve: the appointment of Progress's chair, vice-chair and honorary president for a full parliamentary term, any endorsements made by Progress in internal party elections, and the organisation's overall political strategy. A board representative will be part of any interview panel set up to appoint a new director of Progress.