Saturday is the International Day of Co-operatives and Co-operatives Fortnight runs until 3 July. As a Co-operative Party MSP and the Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Co-operatives in the Scottish Parliament, I was pleased to submit a motion to the Scottish Parliament highlighting these events and the wider benefits co-operatives can bring to our society.

The co-operative movement has a long history in Scotland, something we should be incredibly proud of, and that’s why it is vital Scotland also has a co-operative future.

There are around 600 co-operatives in Scotland, and they have a combined turnover in excess of £1.5 billion.

The model works, and proves it is possible to have a different, more democratic economy; an economy which promotes co-operative and mutual ownership. If we in Scotland are serious about Community Wealth Building, then our economy needs to promote co-operatives and we all have our part to play in bringing about that change.

Along with my Co-operative Party colleagues in Holyrood I will be making the case for more support to be afforded to the co-operative sector. It is incumbent upon the Scottish Government to deliver that increased support and to embrace the benefits of co-operatives.

After all, as my motion says we believe that co-operatives offer the opportunity to build a better world.