Prosper UK
Prosper UK | |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Ruth Davidson Andy Street |
| Founders | Ruth Davidson Andy Street David Gauke Amber Rudd Gavin Barwell Margot James David Lidington |
| Headquarters | 83 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HW |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| Slogan | A home for practical, pro-growth politics and a serious centre-right offer for the UK. |
| Website | |
| https://prosperuk.com/ | |
Prosper UK is a British centre-right political movement launched in January 2026. The organisation was founded by Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, alongside Andy Street, the former Mayor of the West Midlands, David Gauke, a former Justice Secretary, and Amber Rudd, a former Home Secretary. Prosper UK believes in an open, competitive, pro-enterprise economy where hard work is rewarded, people can save for a home, start a business, and pass something on to the next generation.Their aim is to appeal the 7 million "politically homeless" voters,[1] and to bring the Conservative Party back to the centre-right, establishing a national movement rooted in listening, enterprise and serious policy.[2][3]
Ideologies and Platform
[edit]Prosper UK set out to strive for a stronger, more prosperous, more confident United Kingdom, believing that growth is the overriding priority.[4]
What Prosper UK stands for, according to their website:
- A pro-business economy
- One Nation, liberty and the Union
- Security, borders and the rule of law
- Public services that work
- Climate, net zero and energy security
- An outward-looking UK
How Prosper UK intends to make their policies happen:
- Building a movement and a national network of supporters
- creating a recognisable public voice through media and digital platforms
- A policy programme rooted in the real economy
- Bulleted list item
Prosper UK was the first major political organisation to call for the reform of the triple lock pension system, suggesting policy to save £20.6 billion a year by 2050.[5]
Prosper UK regularly publishes research and policy proposals on varying political topics.
Recent reports include; 'An Immigration Plan for Growth', 'Set up for Success? The greater case for devolution' and 'A Fairer Welfare System'.[6]
The website's policy portal feature allows members of the public to suggest policy ideas to 'help shape the next generation of centre-right policy'.
History and origin
[edit]Prosper UK was launched in London on the 26th January 2026, with Davidson claiming there are many people in this country who do not feel as if a single political party represents them.[7]The movement was launched on the basis that current Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has steered her party too far to the right to counter populism from Reform UK, and that Labour has done the same to respond to the Green Party threat.[8]
The launch came at a critical time for centre-right British politics, with multiple high-profile Tory politicians defecting to Reform UK. This includes both Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman defecting in January 2026.[9] [10]
Organisation
[edit]| Role | Namees | Term Start | Term End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Chairs | Ruth Davidson | 26 January 2026 | Incumbent |
| Andy Street | |||
| Vice Chairs | David Gauke | ||
| Amber Rudd | |||
| Wider Board | Gavin Barwell | ||
| David Lidington | |||
| Margot James | |||
| Executive Director | Simon Saunders |
Ruth Davidson
[edit]Ruth Davidson is a writer, broadcaster, company director and politician. A former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, she sits in the House of Lords as a Conservative Peer.
Ruth entered politics following a career in news and current affairs journalism. She is a published author, has written and presented documentaries for radio and television and continues to be a regular contributor to national newspapers.
Ruth sits on the boards of a number of commercial and charitable organisations and co-presents the Sky News podcast, Electoral Dysfunction. She lives in East Lothian in Scotland.[11]
Andy Street
[edit]Andy Street is the former Mayor of the West Midlands (2017–2024). He won two unexpected elections in 2017 and 2021 in what many regarded as a Labour heartland. He remains a leading voice for the West Midlands and for strong, empowered regions that can deliver for local communities and strengthen the economy.
Before entering politics, Andy was Managing Director of John Lewis and he brings a clear business perspective to public service. He is also Chair of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Andy believes Prosper UK exists to make a serious, pro enterprise case for growth and opportunity, to bring together people who feel politically homeless, and to prove that centre right politics can deliver.[12]
David Gauke
[edit]David Gauke is Head of Public Policy at Macfarlanes, a Senior Adviser at Instinctif Partners, and Chair of Negotient LLP. In 2024, he was asked by the Government to chair the Independent Sentencing Review, which reported in May 2025, and he is also a regular political columnist.
He previously served as an MP from 2005 to 2019 and held a number of senior government roles, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.[13]
Amber Rudd
[edit]After leaving politics in 2019, having held cabinet roles under 3 Prime Ministers, including as Home Secretary, Amber has returned to a business career focusing on roles in energy and finance.
She is on the board of Ryanair plc and Centrica plc. She is an Advisor to Equinor, the Norwegian energy company, and FGS the global consultants, amongst others. She is a Trustee of RUSI, the foreign affairs “think tank”, Chair of the Friends of Kyiv School of Economics, and Chair of the Conservative European Affairs Council.[14]
Gavin Barwell
[edit]Gavin Barwell runs NorthStar, a company he co-founded which advises businesses on UK and geopolitics. He is also a non-executive director of Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest housing association.
He served as Downing Street Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Theresa May from June 2017 to July 2019. Before that, he was the Member of Parliament for Croydon, a Government Minister, and the Conservative Party’s Director of Campaigning. He now sits in the House of Lords.[15]
David Lidington
[edit]David Lidington has been an active Conservative since 1975 and served as MP for Aylesbury from 1992 to 2019. He held senior Cabinet roles under Theresa May, including Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, acting as the Prime Minister’s deputy from 2018 to 2019.
He was the UK’s longest-serving Minister for Europe from 2010 to 2016. David recently completed five years as Chair of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and currently chairs the Koenigswinter Conference and the Aurora Forum.[16]
Margot James
[edit]Margot's career spans politics, business and public policy, with deep roots in the West Midlands and a track record across the private and public sectors. She served as Member of Parliament for Stourbridge from 2010 to 2019, holding ministerial roles including Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with responsibility for small business, corporate governance and consumer policy.
Before entering politics, she co-founded and led Shire Health, a life sciences communications business sold to WPP in 1999. She subsequently served as Executive Chair of the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick. She is also a Governor Emeritus of the London School of Economics.[17]
Simon Saunders
[edit]Simon’s career spans politics and public affairs in both the UK and Europe. He has worked across campaign and parliamentary environments, including senior roles supporting policy development, political communications, campaign delivery and has also served as an election agent.
His experience includes building membership and grassroots networks, and helping organisations translate policy into clear messages and effective programmes. He advises senior political leaders and brings a practical, outcomes-focused approach to strategy, communications, and stakeholder engagement.[18]
List of supporters
[edit]List of supporters according to the website, with founders' names in bold:[19]
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References
[edit]- ↑ Novik, Mari; Sheppard, David; Parker, George (26 January 2026). "Former Tory heavyweights launch new centre-right movement". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Novik, Mari; Sheppard, David; Parker, George (26 January 2026). "Prosper UK aims to pull Conservative Party back to middle ground and counter rise of Reform UK". www.ft.com. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ Alencar, Mauricio (26 January 2026). "Andy Street: Conservatives can beat Reform through centre-right". City AM. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ↑ "What We Believe In". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Rebalance the welfare system so it's fair across generations". Prosper UK. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Policy". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ Novik, Mari; Sheppard, David; Parker, George (26 January 2026). "Former Tory heavyweights launch new centre-right movement". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Novik, Mari; Sheppard, David; Parker, George (26 January 2026). "Former Tory heavyweights launch new centre-right movement". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ McKiernan, Jennifer; Nevett, Joshua (15 January 2026). "Jenrick defects to Reform UK after being sacked by Tories". BBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Seddon, Paul; Whannel, Kate (26 January 2026). "Braverman accuses Tories of betrayal as she defects to Reform". BBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Prosper UK - Meet The Team". Prosper UK. Retrieved 29 January 2026.