United for Change (UfC) was a short-lived British political movement, founded on a centrist platform.[2][3][4][5] The movement gained attention after fundraising through large donations from philanthropists and donors was reported.[6][7][8] Although only launched in August 2018, it had reportedly been in the process of development for at least a year.[9] It was later rebranded as the United Party for its planned launch as a political party, however it was never formally registered as a party and the organisation was dissolved in 2021.
In April 2018, British press reported that former Labour donor Simon Franks had set up a company, the Project One Movement, aimed at potentially forming a political party and fielding candidates at an election.[7] It received commitments of roughly £5 million in funding from founders, and was compared to En Marche! in France.[10][11] In August 2018, United for Change was launched as the political campaign name of the Project One Movement.[12]
In late August 2018, one of the founders of the movement Adam Knight left to set up his own political organisation.[13][14] He later voiced his support for the Liberal Democrats.[15] The founders of United for Change were Simon Franks, Dr Saima Rana, Alex Chesterman OBE, Richard Reed CBE, Ceawlin Thynn, Ryan Wain, James Woolf.[citation needed]
United for Change was planned to be a grassroots movement,[16] with the aim of launching as a registered political party after Brexit had concluded.[17]
As of June 2019, it had reportedly scaled back its ambition to win the next general election as a new party but had indicated it still sought to launch fully as a political movement once Brexit was resolved, however Wain, the CEO, had indicated UfC was just a "digital platform" and not a political party.[18] It did not subsequently launch as a party and contest the 2019 general election, and in October 2021, UfC was legally dissolved.[19]
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