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Corbyn-sceptic think tank on brink of collapse

Funding crisis for Progress as director Richard Angell warns of "hard-left" take-over

June 26, 2017 13:00
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2 min read

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Progress, the think-tank closely associated with Tony Blair’s New Labour project, is on the brink of collapse following Lord Sainsbury’s decision to stop funding political causes.

Senior figures within the centre-leaning organisation, which held its annual conference at the weekend, have admitted that Progress has been left with a £120,000 hole in their budgets as a result of the main funder’s move way from financing politics.

Progress was founded in 1995 as an organisation closely linked to Tony Blair’s leadership – and remained an outspoken supporter of Israel and the two-state solution, and has been critical of current leader Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to tackle antisemitism within the party.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville has provided the bulk of funding for Progress since  its formation – but has announced that he now wishes to concentrate on charitable cause.