If we social democrats believe in pragmatic ways to deliver social justice, we need to have our existing views challenged. The Social Democrat Group does not just tolerate different views, but seeks them out.

This is reflected in the book, for example, there are different views on universal basic income, and a piece warning of the dangers of growth to the environment, but another warning of the dangers to prosperity by impeding international trade. The group aims to stimulate debate and contribute to the centre-left finding a way to navigate these conflicting priorities.

Roger Liddle's piece is very welcome. It is a fascinating read, based on detailed expertise and experience, and reminds sensible Labour and Liberal Democrats how much in common we have. The Social Democrat Group has always sought to reach out to social democrats beyond the Liberal Democrats. We must continue to do so, and so contribute to a wider movement to get rid of this awful government. The following are some reasons that our Executive members believe the Social Democrat Group is important.

Michael Mullaney – Vice-chair

As a local councillor in Hinckley and Bosworth in Leicestershire, I am part of a local team that managed to win control of the council last May in a massively Leave area (60+ per cent) by concentrating on the day-to-day issues that affected people's lives. In our literature and online, we campaigned on the need: for improved local health and education services; for protecting local rural bus services and improving rail services; and for protecting vital local services, such as Sure Start Children's Centres and libraries.

On a national level, however, we found it much more difficult to convince people to vote for us as our national messages often concentrated on Europe, or on other issues that people did not see as directly affecting their own everyday lives. What attracted me to the Social Democrat Group was their belief that we should focus on the everyday concerns that most people in the country have, that is, the need for better health services, education and transport links, as well as better-quality, well-paid jobs. For the party to recover nationally, especially if we are going to be more than just a party for affluent Remainvoting suburbs in the South-East, we need a broad appeal.