Labour Party factions

The Labour Party is a "broad church" with multiple competing ideological factions, ranging from democratic socialists to social democrats. Under Keir Starmer's leadership, the party has shifted towards the centre, leading to significant realignment and the rise of new influential groups. 

Momentum  A new grassroots left-wing organisation that wants ordinary members to have much more influence over the party. Cheerleaders for Corbyn and organise in his defence. This group is subject to continued scrutiny about its possible links to long established hard-left groups. http://www.peoplesmomentum.com/

Labour First  Strongly  in opposition to Corbyn and seen as representing the right of the party. Claims to exist to represent ‘moderate party members’. https://labourfirst.wordpress.com/about/

Progress  Represents New Labour ideas and is part of Labour’s right wing. This group was once very influential, but now seriously sidelined due to Corbyn’s success. http://www.progressonline.org.uk/

Compass  Set up in 2003 in opposition to Blair by Neil Lawson, this group could now be described as critical friends of Corbyn. http://www.compassonline.org.uk/

Shifts in faction influence under Kier Starmer

The factional group whose influence has grown is Labour First. Its secretary, Luke Akehurst, topped the ballot in elections for the national executive committee (NEC), and former full-time national organiser Matt Pound plays a key role in the leader’s office. This traditional “old right” organisation, with links to trade unions and local government, was founded in the 80s and its raison d’être has always been to fight the “organised hard left” 

The day after Starmer’s election, Labour to Win was unveiled. It brings together the two main strands of Corbyn-scepticism: Labour First and Progress, which was first established in 1996 to champion New Labour. Since the L2W launch, Progress has merged with Peter Mandelson’s Policy Network and become Progressive Britain. 

Core Ideological Wings

• Labour Left ("Hard Left"): Represented by the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG) of MPs. This faction advocates for radical wealth redistribution, public ownership of key industries, and a sharp critique of capitalism.

  • Status: Currently marginalised under Starmer. Some figures, such as Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, have left or lost the whip, subsequently forming or supporting the breakaway Your Party.

• Soft Left: Occupies the space between the hard left and the centre-right. This group supports many socialist policies but is more willing to compromise for electoral success.

  • Groups: Open Labour and Compass.

• Labour Right / Centrists: Currently the dominant force in the party. This wing focuses on economic stability, "progressive realism," and strong ties to the New Labour legacy.

  • Groups: Progress (recently rebranded from Progressive Britain) and Labour First. 

Emergent and Policy-Based Factions

As of 2024–2026, new caucuses have formed to influence the governing agenda:

• Labour Together: A highly influential think tank and "hyperfaction" that serves as an incubator for Starmer's policy platform.

• Blue Labour: A "left-conservative" faction that pairs left-wing economic policies (like guild socialism) with social conservatism on issues like immigration and community values.

• Labour Growth Group (LGG): A caucus of over 50 MPs focused on housing and planning reform to drive economic growth.

• Living Standards Group: A new caucus of approximately 100 MPs pushing for more radical action on the cost of living to secure future electoral support.

• Red Wall Caucus: Re-founded in 2024 by MPs from traditional working-class areas, primarily focused on opposing high levels of immigration. 

Geographical and Structural Divides

• North-South Divide: A growing regional fracturing where figures like Andy Burnham are seen as representing Northern interests against a perceived Southern-centric leadership.

• Trade Union Group: A bolstered group of MPs with union backgrounds who increasingly hold the leadership to account on workers' rights and economic policy as an alternative to the traditional left.