The alternative

the long version

The 2015 election result was a disappointment for almost everyone on the progressive wing of British politics, at least in England and Wales. A shock for Labour, which had expected to capitalise on unpopular austerity measures; a disaster for the Liberal Democrats, who now face a struggle for survival; and a frustration for the Greens, who saw their membership and average share of the vote rise significantly, but failed to add to their one parliamentary seat. 'The Alternative' is a collection of essays that makes the case for a new, plural, radical politics. These essays set out a base of core values around which progressives can unite, proposing a number of big policy ideas that embody those values and, crucially, setting out an urgently needed new form of politics to achieve them.