Tony Benn described the book as deeply moral and talked of the process by which new thinking enters the political mainstream: those with power usually suggest the proponents of radical
ideas are mad and dangerous before claiming those same ideas as their own. He also suggested to the author that his next book focus on the role of political organisation in the process of
progressive social change.
Clare Short spoke of the importance of new ideas, but also of the need to resuscitate wisdom from the past which has been wrongfully discarded.
Susan Kramer chose to focus on the sections of the book about economics, especially the suggestion in the book that one solution to growing social and economic probelms would be the
taxation of land values.
The book, which discusses the prospects for building a better world from many different angles and is targeted at a non-academic audience, has already been well-received. James Robertson
has called it "an impressive and important book".
The event was hosted by Dave Wetzel, vice-chair, Transport for London and Chair of the Labour Land Campaign, and was supported by the Professional Land Reform Group.
The Possibility of Progress by Mark Braund is published by Shepheard-Walwyn and is available now. ISBN 085683226X Price £14.95. More informaton at www.markbraund.com