[6] One of the party's main positions was to advocate that the UK should be part of the European Union, although it also emphasised investment in education, sustainable development and environmental protection as key values.

Renew was registered with the Electoral Commission in autumn 2017, and the party officials were named as Torrance (leader), Clarke (nominating officer) and David Britten (treasurer).

[15] Following its launch, the party embarked on a "Listen to Britain" tour of the UK, visiting 22 towns and cities and liaising with locals and supporters, addressing schools, holding campaign events and conducting over 5,000 surveys.

[16][15] On 2 March 2018, James Cousins, a former Conservative and latterly independent councillor of Wandsworth London Borough Council joined Renew, giving the party its first seat in local government.

Mullion stepped down as leader on 7 June 2019 and was replaced by the independent MEP for the Southwest of England and Gibraltar, Julie Girling.

[21] On 15 April 2019, the party announced that it was preparing to wind up its 2019 European election campaign in order to support Change UK.

Torrance described Renew as a moderate, centrist party[13] which Clarke identified as "centre-right on the economy and centre-left socially".

[16] According to the party's website, its core aim was to renew UK politics, address inequality and division in the country and reform the system.

The party also aimed to tackle homelessness via a crown corporation tasked with developing and delivering affordable housing[32] and pledged to expand the national healthcare budget while improving efficiency and accountability in the NHS.

[40] The party's then leader, Annabel Mullion, stood as a candidate for London in the 2019 European election[41] as part of a temporary electoral alliance with Change UK.

[43] For the 2019 Peterborough by-election, Renew worked with the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Change UK to support a "unity remain candidate", but the plan broke down at the last minute.