Latest news
Murad Qureshi AM: There is an alternative
As the Conservative Mayor of London presents his budget that fails to meet the needs of ordinary Londoners, Murad Qureshi AM outlines Labour’s alternative plan to invest in community energy and address fuel poverty. As more people struggle to heat their homes whilst the energy companies continue to increase their profits, the Labour Group on […]
Praise for co-operative schools
Another Co-operative school has been judged outstanding. Congratulations to Epinay, a co-operative special school in Tyne and Wear, which has been judged ‘outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted report. The report notes how the co-operative model contributes to the school’s success, stating: “The governing body is strong because the representatives of the co-operative, who are part […]
Housing Market Reform Bill
The Co-operative Party's Chair Gareth Thomas MP has introduced a private members' bill calling reform the housing market.
Politics and the Rochdale Pioneers
Gillian Lonergan, of the National Co-operative Archive, wrote to the Co-operative News earlier this month, responding to a debate on the political neutrality of the Rochdale Pioneers. It makes interesting reading for those considering the background of the Co-operative Party. I am pleased to see the Rochdale Pioneers Museum handbook Our Story being discussed by […]
Co-operative councils set out policy agenda
“A direct means to building One Nation”: Ed Miliband Download ‘Towards co-operative councils: empowering people to change their lives’ here The 21 leaders of Labour’s Co-operative Councils Network today set out their joint vision to “share power and decision-making more equally to achieve the best outcomes for citizens and their communities.” In a joint foreword […]
New Labour & Co-operative councillor in flagship co-operative council
The Co-operative Party’s Head of Communications and member of the Co-operative Group’s South London Area Committee, Martin Tiedemann, was last Thursday (17 January) elected as a Labour & Co-operative councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth. Elected for Brixton Hill ward, home to Lambeth Town Hall and Brixton Prison, Cllr Tiedemann replaced former council leader […]
Public meeting on co-operative housing and welfare reform
The meeting will be chaired by Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd and Chair of the Welsh Assembly Co-operative Group
No community-led projects on London Green Fund list, London Assembly hears
The Mayor’s London Green Fund has not found any commercially viable co-operative or community-led projects to invest in, the London Assembly heard this week[1]. The Fund was set up in 2009 with £100m[2] to invest on commercial rates to projects in the capital with a positive impact on the environment. Returns from the loans and […]
Event: Rebuilding Labour: Turning the Party into a political movement
The Co-operative Party and Labour Policy Review present the following event: Rebuilding Labour: Turning the Party into a political movement 6pm, Tuesday, 5 February 2013 Committee Room 10, House of Commons, Westminster SW1A 0AA The debate will address the question: How can we transform the Labour Party into a movement of ideas and political action, in order to […]
Labour Co-operative MPs call for commitment to co-ops in Energy Bill debate
Yesterday the much heralded Energy Bill received its 2nd reading in Westminster. Parliamentary Officer Joe Fortune reports on the debate where Labour and Co-operative Members of Parliament So the Energy Bill finally returned to the House of Commons this week. This complicated piece of legislation is at least clear on one thing – there is little […]
Playing legal loan sharks at their own game in Edinburgh
After attending a campaign training session at Summerfest, the National Youth Committee rep for Scotland, Hannah Lister returned home full of ideas and, working closely with Labour and Co-operative MSP Kezia Dugdale, has become a key part of the Debtbusters campaign in Edinburgh. Here she tells us what they’ve been up to. As a full time Labour […]
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 […]
