Latest news
Lord Kennedy calls for support for credit unions in House of Lords debate
Lord Kennedy of Southwark led a debate in the House of Lords this week on credit unions. John Hite reports on the latest from the upper house. On the 13th of December, the House of Lords engaged in a debate regarding the successes and future potential of credit unions and mutuals, requested by Labour Co-operative peer […]
Gareth Thomas MP joins with sector to support development of community finance
Gareth Thomas MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Charities Minister, has joined with the Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) in supporting the development of community finance. Here he outlines measures the Chancellor should consider in his Autumn Statement. Ahead of today’s Autumn Statement, I am joining with the CDFA in calling for the […]
Steve Reed MP takes seat in Parliament
Earlier this week, the 32nd Labour & Co-operative Member of Parliament, Steve Reed, took his seat in Parliament. Steve was elected as MP for Croydon North in the by-election last week to replace Malcolm Wicks, a great friend of the co-operative movement who died in September. Steve won a massive 65% of the vote on […]
Ian Murray MP: a dishonest attempt to dress up Beecroft’s proposals as a measure that will increase employee involvement
Shadow BIS Minister Ian Murray MP considers why the Government’s Growth and Infrastructure Bill being introduced into Committee this week is a dishonest assault on employees’ rights dressed up as increasing employee ownership. “There is a lot of employee ownership in our country. But not one of these employers and not one of these plans […]
Co-operative solutions to problem debt
Andy Hull takes a look at ways that local councils can tackle payday lenders
Step forward in the House of Lords for loansharks campaign
Last night the government recognised the need to cap the interest rates charged on payday loans, responding to a debate in the House of Lords on a proposed amendment to the Financial Services Bill.
Railways for Wales – a new and better way
The near-meltdown of the rail franchising process highlights the need to find a better way of delivering rail services.
A mutual future for Welsh Railways
Today in the Welsh Assembly Vaughan Gething AM launched a report titled 'Rail Cymru: A People's Railway for Wales', authored by Paul Salveson.
Andy Sawford MP pays tribute to Corby’s co-operative traditions in his maiden speech
Andy Sawford, the new Labour & Co-operative MP for Corby, made his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday. Corby and its predecessor seats have an unprecedented co-operative history, with three previous Co-operative MPs since 1918, and Andy paid tribute to that heritage in his speech I am very proud to speak in the Chamber for the […]
Jennette Arnold AM urges Boris to put his money where his mouth is, and only use responsible banks
The London Assembly last week urged the Mayor to ensure that the Greater London Authority only uses banks with a strong record of lending to small business and a commitment to corporate responsibility. Labour & Co-operative Assembly Member Jennette Arnold describes why the GLA should move its money. The motion, agreed unanimously by London Assembly […]
Northern Conference, 30th November – 2nd December
From Friday 30th November to Sunday 2nd December, co-operators will gather at Gilsland Spa in Cumbria for the North of England and Scotland Co-operative Party weekend school.
Co-operative Energy – demonstrating the co-operative difference
The Co-operative Energy, the co-operatively owned energy supplier, has announced it will be dropping its electricity prices by 2% just as other suppliers are raising their prices – British Gas increased theirs by 6% on the same day. Consumer-owned Co-operative Energy has shown it can buck the trend and put customers before profit. This price […]
Three new Labour & Co-operative MPs make history
Today’s excellent by-election results mean that there are a record 31 Labour & Co-operative Members of Parliament, as Andy Sawford, Lucy Powell and Stephen Doughty join the Parliamentary Group. Manchester Central was the first of yesterday’s three by-elections to declare its result, bringing the news that Lucy Powell is the new Member of Parliament, a […]
South West weekend conference: Co-operative solutions to local problems
The South West Co-operative Party Council Weekend Conference takes place 19th/20th January 2013 at Brunel Manor, Torquay. The event runs from Saturday lunch-time to Sunday lunch-time and is available for the bargain price of £85 to cover accommodation and all meals and refreshments.Book now to avoid disappointment! Booking from Richard Tomlinson, 11 The Malthouse, Canon Street,Taunton TA1 […]
Caroline Flint MP: Introducing the Power Book
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change Caroline Flint MP introduces the Power Book launched last month by the Co-operative Party, SERA, LGiU and the Shadow DECC team. As a new energy industrial revolution unfolds, future technologies, sources of renewable and low carbon energy and their application offer more scope than ever to […]
