This year’s annual Cooperative conference was entitled ‘Stronger together.’ Held in Edinburgh, this was a fitting theme to celebrate the strong union and cooperation between the Labour party and the Co-operative Party and the case for a united UK.

It was good to see a number of familiar faces during the pre-conference registration. I could sense that there would be a number of lively debates over the weekend as conference kicked off with an opening welcome from Kezia Dugdale MSP. I had the opportunity to meet Kezia at the recent Progress Winning with women Conference and it was great to hear her speak about the work of the Labour controlled Edinburgh City council and the changes across the city.

Gareth Thomas MP in his role as chair of the NEC focused on the need for us ensure that in 2015 we will put local people back in control of public services. It was great to hear Ed Balls MP in his keynote speech addressing the need for the Labour Party to ensure we have a Co-operative Party manifesto we can be proud of at the general election. I picked up the sense and frustration from some long standing Co-operative Party members about the Westminster and London political bubble.

The policy debate sessions allowed delegates an opportunity to showcase and examine what would work locally and nationally. The mention of the next Labour government working to promote a national framework for co-operative schools and the ending of the roll out of free schools was received with a warm round of applause from the audience. This would be a real meaty manifesto commitment that would go down well on the doorstep with activists.

The attendance and support from key MPs including Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Johann Lamont MSP and Cathy Jamieson MSP is a real testament to the work and success of the coop party over the last two years. Key campaigns included Stella Creasy’s work on exposing the irresponsible lending and exploitation caused by out-of-control pay day loan companies like Wonga, and the work led by Supporters Direct who promote the value of community ownership at sports clubs to help secure greater influence for supporters at their clubs.

Lord Foulkes and Lord Kennedy highlighted their work in promoting Co-operative Party policies in the upper chamber and the reminder to engage with Labour peers in developing co-operative initiatives.

Overall the conference proved to be a real success and it was good to see the new staff members. I’m obviously a bit biased, but up and down the country where we are in control across a number of Town Halls, Labour and Co-operative Councillors are handing back power to local people and using core co-operative values to improve public services. The Co-operative Party must be at the forefront of ensuring that we are visible and present during the forthcoming European elections and Local elections in 2014, to help build a platform and to ensure that we build on a strong national Labour Party manifesto with core co-operative values for 2015.

Travelling back to London it struck me that I really should make more of an effort to get out of London on a more regular basis. Overhearing a conversation between a couple about the price of their ticket and how it would have been cheaper for them to fly left me wondering if the Labour Party would be bold enough to explore a policy around nationalised or a mutual option for the railway.