Who is Common Purpose?

[Hummingbirds]

On another thread it was suggested that we start a thread for people to discuss what they know and think about the network called Common Purpose.

To start off the discussion, and to address the claims that Common Purpose is only criticised on whacko websites, I'll post a link to a Telegraph article that touches on the enormous concentration of power amassed by Common Purpose and some sinister illegal activity they've been caught in.

How Labour's 'favourite lobbyist' is pushing hacking campaign

NapDamnYou, see also

www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/nov/16/daily-mail-dossier

It is Michael White's piece in the Guardian. It is a very good article which, I think, treats the Daily Mail (often referred to as the people's paper) with the respect it deserves for asking looking at elite left-wing charitable trusts, New Labour quangos and philanthropists as well as elite Etonian old-boy clubs.

Common Purpose provides very, very expensive leadership courses to many mediocre people in the public sector. I have never noticed any signs of improved leadership after people attend its courses. It is not a crazy conspiring organisation plotting world domination. Believe me, few of the attendees are capable of playing even a small part in world domination.

That is a good article, thanks Claig.

LOLat Maynie

Guido Fawkes, a highly respected political blogger, has recently written about Common Purpose and their uncommon influence on the political elite:

Media Standards Trust: Unaccountable and Undemocratic

Claig, thanks for the Guardian article, but it seems a pretty superficial response to the Mail piece. As Michael White openly admits,

'I don't know the full facts.'

'I must say I knew little or nothing about this.'

It hardly ranks as informed analysis.

For those curious about why Common Purpose is known as 'the masons on steroids', take a look at some 'leaders' involved with them. This is a list from Common Purpose's own website of a 'leadership' event. Here we have the chief of a police force, a bishop, and many other people in positions of power.

Jude Kelly, Artistic Director, South Bank Centre
Charles Handy, Writer and Social Philosopher
Janet Gaymer, Commissioner for Public Appointments
Peter Tatchell, Spokesperson, Outrage!
Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair, Food Standards Agency
Zenna Atkins, Chair, Ofsted
Amy Fawcett, Chair, Pensions First
Bishop John Inge, Bishop of Worcester
Tarek Ben Halim, Founder, Alfanar
Albert Tucker, Fair Trade Pioneer
Oliver Nyumbu, Chief Executive, Carat
Rudi Bogni, Retired Banker & Philanthropist
Andrew Cubie, Chair of the Committee of University Chairs
Sarah Ebanja, Deputy CEO, London Development Agency
Peter Fahy, Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police
Simon Fanshawe, Broadcaster and Writer
Sir Brandon Gough, Chairman, De La Rue plc
Chris Mathias, Founder, Arbour Ventures
Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Forward

Shouldn't these people be declaring their membership in the interests of transparency? Or are transparency and democracy out of fashion these days?

Guido respected? Lol. Right wing libertarian tittle tattle and you've just shown us yet another anti Leveson right wing briefing made into a blog.

As to the list of worthy and influential leaders from across the board speaking at a conference for people aiming to be worthy and influential leaders run by a company offering leadership training...erm. What sort of people would you expect to speak?

This is all a bit paranoid don't you think?
You could get just as excited about the networking potential of the W.I or the Rotary Club.

Agreed Schnapps!

Humming, I've only heard of Charles Handy, Peter Tatchell and Simon Fanshaw off that list. If that was the best that Common Purpose could come up with from their alumni, well, it doesn't say alot.

Shouldn't these people be declaring their membership in the interests of transparency?

But you just said yourself that you took that list of people from CP's own website!

So CP does 'leadership training' across the private, public and third sector. And publicly advertises a conference with speakers who are prominent in the private, public and third sector.

I've come across CP-trained people before. It's a very public sector thing to put on your CV. Private sector people are often similarly obsessed with their Myers-Briggs profile. I'm not sure that either add a great deal to your skill-set. CP is probably good for networking though. I do think the people who set it up are jammy buggers, who just happened to be at the right place at the right time and whose success snowballed. Very much like Emma Harrison and A4E. Or Capita.

Funnily enough their official website has a page on Common Purpose Conspiracy Theories.

I went on a course with them once. It was useless and they are certainly weird, but no more than most other public sector training organisations. The main problem is that like Reader's Digest, it's impossible to get off their mailing list afterwards...