The organisation was established in 1934 as a forum for non partisan discussion of national and international politics. Committed to democratic principles in face of ideological extremes and increasing militarism, it described itself as part of the 'Progressive Movement'. In 1935 it joined with The Next Five Years Group, critical of the UK's National Government. To investigate problems of economic and political interest, the Front organised study groups on the 'Machinery of Goverment' for instance or 'Malnutrition and Poverty'. It also held speaker meetings.

The comparative neutrality of its early years had been abandoned in favour of centre/centre left alliance by 1937 when it launched a magazine, The Democratic Front (soon simplified to The Democrat). It included articles on national and international events, civil war in Spain for instance or the invasions of Abyssinia and Czechoslovakia, but also book and art exhibition reviews and poetry.

From the start, many public figures supported the Democratic front as Vice-Presidents, including Conservative politician Vyvyan Adams, philosopher C.E.M. Joad and classicist Professor Gilbert Murray.