'There is a high degree of cross-party unity around issues like updating Britain’s analogue-age campaign rules, spreading power outside of London and reining in our crumbling constitution.

This Democracy Day, let’s start to build a better politics.'

More in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/05/an-overhaul-of-westminster-politics-is-long-overdue

'Looking back over the last parliamentary period, one of the delights, frankly, was working with an organisation called More United, which brought MPs deliberately together from across parties to try and find common ground'

‘In general, we know that if you want to come up with a good idea you get the best brains in the room,’ she says. ‘Yet, in politics we say, “if you haven't got a blue rosette or a red rosette on, you can't come in the room”. Our country is made up of so many different ideas and people, and yes there's extremes on the left and right but, if we only ever let one colour rosette in at any one time, and never want to think of anyone else’s ideas, we’re only going to get more polarization - that’s what we’ve seen over the past three years. ‘

More in Grazia: https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/tabitha-morton/

We were formed because we believe that politics has reached breaking point. Political debate is increasingly extreme and MPs are being forced into tribes that put party before real people. We want to change this by encouraging politicians to work across party divides to find solutions on the issues that matter to our everyday lives. Issues that are just as important as Brexit, from the homelessness crisis to our social care system and the environment.

Our movement is one of hope over hate, one that provides the mechanism through which progress can continue to be made.

More in The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/general-election-more-united-cross-party-tories-labour-lib-dem-green-a9214801.html

Millions of us have felt powerless as the main parties have galloped to the extremes. Populism is on the march across the world, and we have not been immune in Britain. Divisions have deepened, rhetoric spiralled, MPs are quitting because of abuse and threats, there seem to be few consequences for telling lies.

What can the rest of us do? Too often our votes do not matter, but our voices will, if we use them.

More in The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/common-ground-not-commons-conflict-will-stop-extreme-politics-2tf6mz82s

More United’s co-founder and CEO Bess Mayhew has stepped down from her role after three years building the cross-party movement.

As one of the original founders of our movement, Bess worked with the late Lord Paddy Ashdown and others to create More United in 2016 as a reaction to the political events of that year. She then assumed the role of CEO without pay for a year while starting to grow the movement to the 150,000 members it has today.

Bess said, “I’m so proud of everything More United has achieved over the last three years. From just an idea, More United has grown into a hugely successful movement, creating a new way to do politics that is non-tribal and affects change in the heart of Parliament. I wish the team all the best as they take the movement on to its next chapter.”

The More United board has appointed Chief Operating Officer Tabitha Morton as Interim CEO. Tabitha has assumed the role at a time of exciting change, following the recent launch of the More United MP Network.

Tabitha said, “Now we have established the MP Network, we will use the power of our movement to create a More United country.”

Tabitha joined the team as COO in April 2018. Formerly Commercial Director at ASSA ABLOY a global security manufacturer, she has deep commercial experience in growth, strategy, product development and operations.

Recognising Bess’ contribution Tabitha said, “No one has contributed more to the success of More United than Bess. During her time as CEO, we have achieved so much and we now have in place a really strong team. All of her colleagues here will miss her but we wish her well and are excited to see what she does next.”

It’s time more MPs of all parties prioritised the pursuit of shared priorities over the constant quest for things to disagree about. That’s why I am a founding member of the More United MP Network, a new platform for MPs of all parties to work together in the national interest, no matter which party is in power. The aim is to go beyond compromises fudged together in the mushy middle ground of our politics. There is an opportunity here for MPs to do something more radical and explore bold policies that can unite seemingly distant parts of our political landscape.

More in iNews: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/while-brexit-dominates-50-mps-from-seven-parties-are-joining-forces-to-get-important-issues-back-on-the-agenda-503210

Of course with so many MPs from different parties involved, we won’t always agree on everything. However, we believe that by staking out common ground and adopting a united front to campaign on the areas of common concern we can offer another example of what it might mean to do politics differently.

More in The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/we-re-sick-of-urgent-issues-being-ignored-in-favour-of-brexit-kht0dw8b9

More than 50 MPs from seven parties have formed a group to tackle issues “ignored” because of Brexit. A spokesman said that the MPs had now committed themselves “to proactively work with each other where they can find common ground”.

More in The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brexit-mps-from-seven-parties-form-more-united-to-set-a-new-agenda-chfjzj2cn

The ‘More United’ group, dubbed ‘politics for the Netflix generation’, features politicians from seven different political parties, including Labour, Tory, SNP, Lib Dem, Green, ChangeUK and Plaid Cymru.

The new network, which includes leading MPs David Lammy, Nicky Morgan, Jo Swinson and Caroline Lucas, will help fund candidates who campaign on poverty and homelessness, responsible technology, mental health and urgent climate dangers.

Backed by 150,000 members, it has already helped MPs from different parties to work together on issues like immigration visas, restoring the ‘Enable Fund’ for deaf and disabled people and access to Legal Aid.

More in Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/50-mps-from-seven-parties-join-forces-on-issues-ignored-because-of-brexit_uk_5cbf829ee4b0764d31d990bb?guccounter=1&guce;_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce;_referrer_sig=AQAAAFezBBGE4U46T6II_ZczoNkr8I1nidPlNikSQg7_Wk62YBJBHfyuyMkZlgYECupj_4WBJ_tmWma6dEDUGK8Zfv_FVtrHwLb9vIn1DtIH-O-UTQvYeVyX-urhU2Tgqj-U-k1_odE5KRDx2OJbrCjHPUQDvX-hfX9c4ubPj-l_KywP

A few weeks ago I was asked if I would be interested in joining the More United Network. One call with its leadership team and I was sold. The idea is simple really, a new platform for MPs who are willing, where possible, to work cross-party in the national interest, regardless of which party is in power.

More in the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-mps-more-united-network-parliament-commons-a8883656.html

"By uniting MPs who can find common ground on divisive issues we want to show there is a way to move Britain forward and work together to build a fair and thriving country.”

Ms Morgan, who is also chair of the Treasury Committee, said: “All MPs come in to politics because they want to improve the lives of the people they represent.

“Of course we don’t always agree on how to do that but where we can find agreement across party lines there is often a compelling case to be made to the government of the day.

“The More United Network will give MPs across the Commons a chance to do just that.”

Mr Lammy added: "A rare silver-lining to come out of the disastrous Brexit process is a new willingness among MPs to cooperate beyond traditional tribal loyalties.

"MPs have found that there is a special power in cross-party working and by publicly committing to seek out strong alliances that protect shared values we can help create positive changes that benefit the entire country."

More in Politics Home: https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/news/103379/mps-form-cross-party-alliance-tackle-‘issues-ignored-because

Promises to change politics are on the tip of the tongue for many politicians as we head into the European elections. MPs have a chance to start doing just that by pressing the case for trialling changes to the House of Commons when it moves to a temporary home in a few years.

More in The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/flexible-seating-and-electronic-voting-would-drag-parliament-into-the-21st-century-rglkprq6m

It is fashionable to reflect that politics is broken. Whether you are chatting to millennial socialists, populist nationalists or frustrated centrists, the idea that democracy in the West is malfunctioning is likely to be acknowledged without hesitation. But it is not true.

More in The Economist: https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/05/21/we-need-to-break-political-tribalism-to-improve-democracy

Around 50 Members of Parliament from seven political parties have established a groundbreaking network for cross-party campaigning in Westminster.

The More United MP Network is the latest addition to a fast-changing landscape in the House of Commons. It has been convened to tackle ‘issues ignored because of Brexit’ by the emerging cross-party movement of over 150,000 members who share a desire to move Britain forward.

Senior MPs including Nicky Morgan, David Lammy, Heidi Allen, Caroline Lucas, Jo Swinson and Stephen Kinnock are all founding members of the network, joining colleagues in signing a commitment to work cross-party in the national interest, no matter which party is in power.

MPs in the network will be able to lead cross-party campaigns on issues which have been ignored because of Brexit. These include poverty and homelessness, responsible technology, mental health and urgent climate dangers.

MPs who lead and support More United campaigns will be eligible to receive money and volunteers from the movement at General Elections with almost £500,000 raised via crowdfunding and 54 candidates supported in 2017.

More United members are able to support campaigns through online petitions, surveys and write to your MP initiatives as well as local outreach and lobbying events. Members across the UK are able to work with politicians from all parties through More United campaigns, no matter which constituency they live in and they also have a vote on which MPs to support at election time.

With tens of millions of people in the UK signing online petitions there is a clear appetite for using digital technology to engage with politics. By fusing online engagement opportunities with MPs of all parties the group intends to become a significant mass movement with 250,000 members and 100 MPs onboard by the end of 2020.

More United CEO Bess Mayhew said, "People see cross-party working as a proxy for trust in politics. When polling shows that only three out of ten people believe they can make a difference by getting involved in politics something has to change. By uniting MPs who can find common ground on divisive issues we want to show there is a way to move Britain forward and work together to build a fair and thriving country.”

Nicky Morgan MP said, “All MPs come in to politics because they want to improve the lives of the people they represent. Of course we don’t always agree on how to do that but where we can find agreement across party lines there is often a compelling case to be made to the government of the day. The More United Network will give MPs across the Commons a chance to do just that.”

David Lammy MP said, “A rare silver-lining to come out of the disastrous Brexit process is a new willingness among MPs to cooperate beyond traditional tribal loyalties. MPs have found that there is a special power in cross-party working and by publicly committing to seek out strong alliances that protect shared values we can help create positive changes that benefit the entire country."