A Co-operative Renaissance?

I’ve dedicated the last 15 years to the co-operative cause. When people first encounter the UK co-operative movement, they often embark on a journey to understand its essence. Many are familiar with co-op shops, but there’s a broader world of co-operatives to discover. This journey reveals the different types of co-ops, their structures, benefits, global impact, and rich history.
This history is both rich and fascinating. From a single shop formed by 28 people in Rochdale, the movement has grown to encompass one billion people worldwide. It is one of the most successful social movements in recent history. As people delve into co-operative history, they uncover the social fabric woven by the movement. Whether it’s reminiscing about the family divvy number, finding local housing co-ops, social clubs, or co-op dimensions in fairtrade and peace movements, the co-operative impact is everywhere. Farms, worker co-operatives, community-owned cafes, energy schemes, building societies, and credit unions are all integral to our daily lives and owe their existence to the co-operative movement.

Despite this profound influence, co-operatives have not received the support they deserve. The UK, which exported modern co-operation globally, often fails to recognise its significance at home. Co-ops contribute £40bn to GDP, and this figure rises significantly when including mutuals. Yet, misconceptions persist. Some believe co-ops are only suited for small ventures, not large businesses. This is far from the truth. In Germany, a significant portion of banking is done through co-ops. Most milk in India is produced by co-ops, and 40% of US agriculture is co-operative.

Co-operatives are more productive, resilient, invest more in their communities, and create more equal outcomes. Why then, should we see them as a relic of the past? We should be creating more co-operatives, not fewer. We face a multitude of problems in our country right now, all these issues can’t be fixed from Westminster. What we need a co-operative renaissance that puts decision making at the heart of local communities.

We should be a country that supports and nurtures new co-operative enterprises. Currently, we are not. However, I envision a future where this is the case. The Co-operative Party, which I am proud to serve as General Secretary, is ambitious about co-operative growth. We aim to double the size of the sector and the number of co-operatives and mutuals. We also believe that the co-operative model can help address climate change and other huge issues that seem insurmountable right now. Community-owned renewable energy can boost our renewable mix, reduce bills, increase energy independence, and create thousands of new energy owners.

These ideas are now part of the Labour Party’s manifesto and plan for their future government. Measures like this and a new community right to buy means we may soon have a government committed to a co-operative and mutual renaissance. The co-operative sector will indeed be the building blocks of Labour’s transformative plan for government.

We should aim to have a co-operative sector comparable to our European neighbours and re-establish co-operation in our social psyche and fabric. To thrive as a nation and address current civic challenges, we must reignite the beautiful, unique, and often overlooked strength of co-operation.