3rd April 2019 Long read: proposals for a new public banking ecosystem Anna Birley Policy Officer A new report came out this week with detailed proposals for a transition to a banking ecosystem that puts the public interest first. Our Policy Officer, Anna Birley, shares some highlights from the report.
3rd April 2019 Food poverty in UK schools is unacceptable Caitlin Prowle Youth Organiser The United Kingdom is one of the richest countries on earth. Our economy consistently ranks in the top 10 for size and development, and our richest populations increased their wealth by £66 billion in the last year alone. Take a look inside our country’s classrooms however and you will find a very different story.
29th March 2019 Transforming Rochdale by building community wealth the co-operative way Edward Carpenter In Rochdale, anchor institutions are coming together to build community wealth and grow their local co-operative economy. This case study explores how their initiative, Rochdale Stronger Together, is creating the jobs that people want, the services that they need, communities where people want to live and opportunities for young people to aspire and achieve.
28th March 2019 Remembering Dr Jim Arnold – Preserver of New Lanark Iain McDonald Trustee of the New Lanark Trust Claudia Beamish MSP and Ged Killen MP have tabled motions to the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Parliament respectively to mark the passing of Dr Jim Arnold, former director of the New Lanark Trust and responsible for preserving the hugely important New Lanark site. Iain Macdonald, trustee of the New Lanark Heritage Trust and former Secretary General of the International Co-operative Alliance, has contributed the following obituary.
26th March 2019 PM Theresa May, take action on modern slavery in hand car washes Co-operative Party Today Labour and Co-operative MPs, London AMs, Police and Crime Commissioners, Council Leaders, and City Mayors have sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging action on the compulsory licensing of car washes.
21st March 2019 Support the child victims of modern slavery Archived: Mark Whiley Digital and Communications Officer Figures out this week show a shocking rise in the number of UK children in modern slavery - primarily linked to drug related organised crime. We must increase support for all victims from 45 days to a year.
21st March 2019 Hackney’s approach to tackling food poverty Philip Glanville Mayor of Hackney This is a campaign we wish we weren’t having to fight.
18th March 2019 Building a decent society – to live and work Lord Kerslake Crossbench peer in the House of Lords Brexit dominates our political discourse, but our country faces urgent challenges in other areas such as housing and work. Crossbench peer Lord Kerslake speaks to our Common Decency Conference.
14th March 2019 The People’s Money – Financial Institutions that serve people and their communities Richard McCready Political Officer At the Scottish Labour Conference last weekend in Dundee we held a very successful fringe meeting titled, 'The People’s Money'.
14th March 2019 The Scottish Co-operative Party launches Food Justice campaign. Richard McCready Political Officer Last weekend in Dundee the Scottish Co-operative Party launched its Food Justice campaign.
13th March 2019 There is also a Spring Statement today… Anna Birley Policy Officer Our economy needs a radical overhaul to shake us out of stalled growth and our Brexit malaise - but today's Spring Statement looks unlikely to propose anything that will genuinely tackle low wages and poor productivity.
12th March 2019 Help us deliver food justice James Butler Campaigns Officer We need to work to restore common decency for all and that starts with the fight for food justice. Help us to make it happen.
11th March 2019 This is simply too important a decision to freeze democracy and claim it only counted on one day in 2016. Stephen Doughty Labour and Co-operative MP for Cardiff South & Penarth Giving a voice to the people to decide the future of their own country is exactly how it should be. That is why as a Co-operative MP I am campaigning hard to give people a final say.
8th March 2019 Across the World, co-operatives are helping to close the Gender Gap Ria Bernard Volunteer Co-ordinator, Co-operative Party Women's Network This week, to mark International Women’s Day 2019, the Co-operative Party Women’s Network hosted an event exploring how co-operatives have succeeded in empowering women to bring about sustainable change to their communities around the world.
7th March 2019 Common decency in action: Mondragon co-operatives, Spain Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Our vision of Common Decency isn’t just a dream or an idea; it’s a model that already exists. And it works.
6th March 2019 Fairtrade and Co-operatives: Working Together Miriam Rice Vice Chair, London Co-operative Party
4th March 2019 Rebuilding Common Decency Claire McCarthy Former General Secretary Whether in policy or how we do politics, common decency seems further away than ever. That's why we must all recommit ourselves to building a politics we can all be proud of.
1st March 2019 A refreshed identity for the Party’s second century Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer This month sees the launch of a refreshed brand identity for the Co-operative Party. Here's more about the new look, designed to reflect the Party’s renewed ambition.
1st March 2019 A new era of co-operation in Greater Manchester Emma Hoddinott Local Government Officer Greater Manchester has a proud tradition of co-operation and an already thriving co-operative sector. The launching of the Co-operative Commission is another important step towards building a better, stronger and more co-operative society.
26th February 2019 Islington Council takes concerted action to combat modern slavery Cllr Andy Hull Publishing an annual report on progress is one of the ten requirements of the Charter and an important way to ensure that its signatories are publicly accountable for honouring the commitments they have made.
25th February 2019 When it comes to chocolate producers, #shedeserves a living income Caitlin Prowle Youth Organiser In a chocolate industry with high numbers of low-paid women, gender equality and poverty reduction go hand in hand.
15th February 2019 Votes at 16 in Wales will strengthen our democracy – it’s time for Westminster to follow our lead James Cleverley Member of Co-operative Party Youth Committee Co-operative politics is about sharing power and giving a voice to ordinary people on the decisions that impact them. Wales is leading the way, with new legislation introduced to the Welsh Assembly this week to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote - and it's time for Westminster to do the same.
12th February 2019 A co-operative future for childcare Tracy Brabin Co-operative MP for Batley & Spen and Shadow Early Years Minister Shadow Early Years Minister Tracy Brabin has been exploring co-operative approaches to creating more affordable, inclusive and accountable childcare provision
12th February 2019 It’s time for a social care system that puts people at the heart of a service Caitlin Prowle Youth Organiser Social care co-operatives are providing a more empowering, responsive and caring service. The Welsh Government have introduced legislation to promote co-operative delivery models, and it's time for Westminster to follow suit to fix our broken care system.
6th February 2019 We must look at a new way of providing free access to cash so that local communities are not left behind Ged Killen Labour & Co-op MP for Rutherglen & Hamilton West. New funding cuts announced recently mean free ATMs are closing at a rate of 250 every month. Fresh new thinking is needed to ensure communities and local businesses aren't left behind.
31st January 2019 We need a Budget which protects Scotland’s communities James Kelly Labour and Co-operative MSP for Glasgow As a Scottish Co-operative Party MSP I will be looking for a Budget today which is bold and which transforms the way in which out economy is run.
30th January 2019 It’s time to ditch the big banks – Britain’s consumers deserve a more diverse financial sector Caitlin Prowle Youth Organiser Consumers are being failed by a lack of diversity in our banking sector, and the backlog of complaints at the Ombudsman proves it. Credit unions, co-operatives and community banks are already showing that a fairer financial services is possible.
25th January 2019 Oxford race ahead in cutting emissions Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward Time is running out to prevent a climate catastrophe. Global emissions show few signs of slowing down, hitting unprecedented levels in 2018. It is a timely that the Co-op Party has launched its policy consultation on climate change, energy and environment. Take a look at what Oxford are doing and share your thoughts.
23rd January 2019 Community wealth building is coming to London Emma Hoddinott Local Government Officer
18th January 2019 Credit unions: a serious, mainstream alternative to banks Richard McCready Political Officer This week the Scottish Parliament has debated credit unions and their contribution to Scottish society