As the last Labour Party National Policy Forum before the election comes to a close, I thought I’d reflect on my experience in attending my first policy forum, and share with you some of our achievements.

I believe that the last 3 days have shown us that there is a real appetite for Co-operative Party ideas and the values and principles of our wider movement. It is clear to me that our proposals will form an important part of Labour’s offer as we move towards May 2015.

My experience of the process itself is that it has also drawn on the best of co-operative principles. Tough questions have been asked, all sides have been realistic in our expectations and aims, and  in the end we have worked together and co-operated to find the solutions.

Some of our successes include:

• A pledge that co-operative principles will have a significant role to play in our new plan for the railways, increasing  accountability to passengers and staff, as well as the exploration of co-operative and mutual models of rail ownership.
  Tweet about this
• An agreement to explore co-operative housing as a fair and accountable alternative to private rental.
  Tweet about this
• In pensions a commitment to new rights to information and participation for members.
  Tweet about this
• We have sought and achieved recognition for the excellent work of co-operative schools and a commitment to promoting co-operation between schools and learning from co-op clusters.
  Tweet about this
• We have achieved recognition and support for childcare co-operatives, social enterprises and charities.
  Tweet about this
• We have achieved commitment to the formation of an armed forces credit union which will have a wonderful positive impact on military families.
  Tweet about this
• And we have achieved a commitment to broadening co-operative and community ownership models within the energy sector and the support to develop community direct supply.
  Tweet about this

As part of the three-person Co-operative Party delegation to the NPF, much of the success we have had in our amendments to policy documents can be attributed directly to the months of hard work, negotiating, drafting and research.

The fact that we have made such a substantial impact speaks volumes about the work done by members, our politicians and the staff support team, as well as the strength and timeliness of our ideas.

I’m looking forward to seeing the policies formulated here implemented in government – making life better for people across the country – and like you, I’ll be working hard in the coming months to ensure that happens.