More United was a cross-party political movement in the United Kingdom. It described itself as a "tech-driven political startup" that supported candidates regardless of party affiliation. The movement advocated for public service investment, democratic reform, a green economy, tolerant society, and co-operation with the EU.
More United took its name from the maiden speech delivered by Jo Cox, a British MP who was murdered in June 2016.
Values The movement said it would support any candidate from any party who backed its values and pledged to advance them in Parliament:
Opportunity: we need a fair economy that bridges the gap between rich and poor. Tolerance: we want to live in a free, diverse society where our differences are celebrated and respected. Democracy: we want you to have real influence over politics. Environment: we must do everything possible to tackle climate change and protect our environment. Openness: we welcome immigration, but understand it must work for everyone, and believe in bringing down international barriers, not raising them. We also want a close relationship with Europe.
History Following the result of the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, in which the country voted to withdraw from the European Union, there was considerable media discussion concerning the future of the British centre ground. Press rumours of a split in the Labour Party had occurred since Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader in 2015; this intensified after pro-EU members of his shadow cabinet resigned in protest of his allegedly weak support for the Remain campaign, leading to a leadership challenge by Owen Smith. The Conservatives also faced the prospect of an ideological split, as some pro-EU Conservatives feared the potential consequences of Andrea Leadsom defeating Theresa May in the leadership election; Leadsom ultimately withdrew from the race, handing unopposed victory to May. Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, wrote an article in The Times accusing both parties of failing to provide reasonable solutions to the issues afflicting communities across Britain.
More United was founded in July 2016 by a team drawn from business, academia, and politics: Austin Rathe, Bess Mayhew, Corinne Sawers and Maurice Biriotti. They received support from cross party MPs, led by Paddy Ashdown. It was dissolved in January 2023.
Election campaigns 2016 Richmond Park by-election
More United voted to support Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney, who subsequently defeated the incumbent MP, Zac Goldsmith, in December 2016.
2017 general election
On 23 November 2016, More United launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help support candidates. By 22 December, the campaign had raised £274,164.
+ Candidates endorsed by More United Candidate Seat Party Announced Result Amna Ahmad Sutton and Cheam Liberal Democrats 4 May 20172nd Rosena Allin-Khan Tooting Labour Kelly-Marie Blundell Lewes Liberal Democrats2nd Jack Dromey Birmingham Erdington Labour Liz Kendall Leicester West Labour Stephen Kinnock Aberavon Labour Clive Lewis Norwich South Labour Vix Lowthion Isle of Wight Green3rd Caroline Lucas Brighton Pavilion Green Ian Lucas Wrexham Labour Tessa Munt Wells Liberal Democrats2nd Gareth Thomas Harrow West Labour Co-op Ruth Cadbury Brentford and Isleworth Labour 8 May 2017 Jane Dodds Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats2nd Andrew George St Ives Liberal Democrats2nd Mark Hunter Cheadle Liberal Democrats2nd Peter Kyle Hove Labour Norman Lamb Norfolk North Liberal Democrats Alison McGovern Wirral South Labour Ian Murray Edinburgh South Labour Anna Soubry Broxtowe Conservative Jo Swinson East Dunbartonshire Liberal Democrats Sophie Walker Shipley Women's Equality4th John Woodcock Barrow and Furness Labour Co-op Vince Cable Twickenham Liberal Democrats 18 May 2017 Alistair Carmichael Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrats Gloria De Piero Ashfield Labour Christine Jardine Edinburgh West Liberal Democrats Rachel Reeves Leeds West Labour Elizabeth Riches North East Fife Liberal Democrats2nd Jo Roundell Greene Yeovil Liberal Democrats2nd Gavin Shuker Luton South Labour Co-op Chuka Umunna Streatham Labour Chris Bryant Rhondda Labour 24 May 2017 Daisy Cooper St Albans Liberal Democrats2nd Stephen Doughty Cardiff South and Penarth Labour Co-op David Lammy Tottenham Labour Sue McGuire Southport Liberal Democrats3rd Jonathan Reynolds Stalybridge and Hyde Labour Co-op Owen Smith Pontypridd Labour Jamie Stone Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Liberal Democrats George Turner Vauxhall Liberal Democrats2nd Geraint Davies Swansea West Labour Co-op 2 June 2017 Seema Malhotra Feltham and Heston Labour Co-op Sarah Olney Richmond Park Liberal Democrats2nd Emma Reynolds Wolverhampton North East Labour Tulip Siddiq Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Andy Slaughter Hammersmith Labour Mark Williams Ceredigion Liberal Democrats2nd
2019 general election
It was not uncommon for More United to endorse more than one candidate in the same seat.
+ Candidates endorsed by More United Candidate Seat Party Result Louis Adam Warwick and Leamington Liberal Democrats3rd Humaira Ali Bermondsey and Old Southwark Liberal Democrats2nd Rosena Allin-Khan Tooting Labour Fleur Anderson Putney Labour Tonia Antoniazzi Gower Labour Alyson Barnes Rossendale and Darwen Labour2nd Richard Benwell Wantage Liberal Democrats2nd Luciana Berger Finchley and Golders Green Liberal Democrats2nd Jason Billin Rushcliffe Liberal Democrats3rd Ben Bradshaw Exeter Labour Tom Brake Carshalton and Wallington Liberal Democrats2nd Ruth Cadbury Brentford and Isleworth Labour Lisa Cameron East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow SNP Alistair Carmichael Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrats Wendy Chamberlain North East Fife Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper St Albans Liberal Democrats Charlotte Cornell Dover Labour2nd Mary Creagh Wakefield Labour2nd Nic Dakin Scunthorpe Labour2nd Geraint Davies Swansea West Labour Martyn Day Linlithgow and East Falkirk SNP Marsha de Cordova Battersea Labour Lynn Denham Worcester Labour2nd Kishan Devani Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats2nd Jane Dodds Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats2nd Stephen Doughty Cardiff South and Penarth Labour Rosie Duffield Canterbury Labour Rachel Eden Reading West Labour Co-op2nd Paula Ferguson Winchester Liberal Democrats2nd Natalie Fleet Ashfield Labour3rd David Gauke South West Hertfordshire Independent2nd Andrew George St Ives Liberal Democrats2nd Stephen Gethins North East Fife SNP2nd Preet Gill Birmingham Edgbaston Labour Co-op Mark Gitsham Battersea Liberal Democrats3rd Helen Goodman Bishop Auckland Labour2nd Laura Gordon Sheffield Hallam Liberal Democrats2nd Ruth Gripper Truro and Falmouth Liberal Democrats3rd John Grogan Keighley Labour2nd Sam Gyimah Kensington Liberal Democrats3rd Oli Henman Lewes Liberal Democrats2nd Andrew Hilland Lanark and Hamilton East Labour3rd Wera Hobhouse Bath Liberal Democrats Charlotte Holloway Plymouth Moor View Labour2nd Kamran Hussain Leeds North West Liberal Democrats3rd Christine Jardine Edinburgh West Liberal Democrats Darren Jones Bristol North West Labour Liz Kendall Leicester West Labour Peter Kyle Hove Labour Ben Lake Ceredigion Plaid CymruPeter Lamb Crawley Labour2nd David Lammy Tottenham Labour Phillip Lee Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency) Liberal Democrats2nd Stephen Lloyd Eastbourne Liberal Democrats2nd Caroline Lucas Brighton Pavilion Green Seema Malhotra Feltham and Heston Labour Paul Masterton East Renfrewshire Conservative2nd Martin McCluskey Inverclyde Labour2nd Stewart McDonald Glasgow South SNPStuart McDonald Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East SNP Alison McGovern Wirral South Labour Catherine McKinnell Newcastle upon Tyne North Labour Beth Miller Corby Labour2nd Ed Miliband Doncaster North Labour Anne Milton Guildford Independent4th Layla Moran Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats Stephen Morgan Portsmouth South Labour Tom Morrison Cheadle Liberal Democrats2nd Tessa Munt Wells Liberal Democrats2nd Ian Murray Edinburgh South Labour Chris Ostrowski Watford Labour2nd Jess Phillips Birmingham Yardley Labour Emma Reynolds Wolverhampton North East Labour2nd Judith Rogerson Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats2nd Antoinette Sandbach Eddisbury Liberal Democrats3rd Liz Saville Roberts Dwyfor Meirionnydd Plaid Cymru Gavin Shuker Luton South Independent3rd Tulip Siddiq Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Andy Slaughter Hammersmith Labour Lisa Smart Hazel Grove Liberal Democrats2nd Alex Sobel Leeds North West Labour Co-op Chris Stephens Glasgow South West SNP Jamie Stone Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Liberal Democrats Ian Stotesbury Watford Liberal Democrats3rd Wes Streeting Ilford North Labour Alison Taylor Paisley and Renfrewshire North Labour2nd Gareth Thomas Harrow West Labour Co-op Chuka Umunna Cities of London and Westminster Liberal Democrats2nd Gerald Vernon-Jackson Portsmouth South Liberal Democrats3rd Karen Ward North Norfolk Liberal Democrats2nd Kate Watson Glasgow East Labour2nd Catherine West Hornsey and Wood Green Labour Martin Whitfield East Lothian Labour2nd Philippa Whitford Central Ayrshire SNP Emma Whysall Chipping Barnet Labour2nd Max Wilkinson Cheltenham Liberal Democrats2nd Hywel Williams Arfon Plaid Cymru Mark Williams Ceredigion Liberal Democrats3rd Paul Williams Stockton South Labour2nd Phil Wilson Sedgefield Labour2nd Munira Wilson Twickenham Liberal Democrats Sue Wixley Putney Liberal Democrats3rd Sarah Wollaston Totnes Liberal Democrats2ndJohn Wright Southport Liberal Democrats3rd
Issue-based campaigns Following the 2017 election, More United conducted UK-wide and online consultations with supporters to identify their priorities for the movement. The issues supporters identified as being the most important to campaign on were the NHS, equality and Brexit.
NHS/Brexit Campaign, 2018 In February 2017, More United launched a campaign to secure a Parliamentary debate on how Brexit would impact the NHS, arguing that the government had not given this question sufficient consideration. Thousands of supporters were mobilised to contact their MPs in support of the campaign, which led to 47 MPs from five parties submitting a request for a backbench business debate. That debate was held in Parliament on 22 March.
Campaign to restore the Access to Elected Office Fund, 2018 In April 2018, More United supported the launch of a legal challenge against the government, led by three deaf and disabled candidates of different parties, all of whom were also Members of More United. The focus of the challenge was to get the government to restore a Fund that existed from 2012 to 2015 to help deaf and disabled candidates of all parties, at all levels, with the extra costs of standing for election. The Fund was frozen and placed under review in 2015, but no findings from the review or a decision on the Fund's future had been published in nearly three years. More United launched a campaign alongside the legal challenge, with thousands of supporters signing a petition to get the government to restore the Fund.
This campaign received endorsement from 19 of the UK's most prominent deaf and disabled people, who came together from across the realms of business, entertainment, academia and politics to publish an open letter of support in The Sunday Times. The campaign also received backing from three disabled MPs from three parties. Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd and Conservative MP Robert Halfon co-wrote a letter to the Home Office asking for the immediate restoration of the Fund.
Convenors In addition to its founders, a number of prominent public figures endorsed the movement's launch, with the following being listed as the organisation's Convenors:
Josh Babarinde, social entrepreneur, youth worker, and later President of the Liberal Democrats Maurice Birotti, businessman and academic Jeremy Bliss, lawyer and entrepreneur