24th November 2021 Exeter City Council becomes another council to lead the way on fair tax Cllr Martin Pearce Councillor for Duryard & St James ward on Exeter City Council Fighting the climate emergency and fuel poverty by reducing bills, are all ways that the City Council leads and adopting the Fair Tax Foundation standards seemed to be a natural extension of this.
23rd November 2021 The Government must act and change the tax system to support our high streets James Butler Campaigns Officer As Co-operative MP James Murray puts it 'ending the race to the bottom is crucial to taxing fairly, and to helping our high streets and British businesses to thrive'.
16th November 2021 To tackle climate change after COP26, we must work together to make a difference. Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford We must be focused on how we clean our energy, decarbonise heat and transport, and create high-paying green jobs.
16th November 2021 In the East Midlands, we must campaign to put power in the hands of people Jamie McMahon Co-operative Party NEC Member This weekend over 30 Co-operators from across the East Midlands came together in Gedling to knock on doors, deliver leaflets and run a street stall.
12th November 2021 At COP26, we’ve seen how young people are becoming the leading voice on tackling climate change Georgia Horsfall Communications Assistant It’s time to give young people a seat at the table – a say AND a stake – so that we can put in place the bold, co-operative solutions we need to tackle the climate crisis – before it’s too late.
9th November 2021 To address a climate crisis, we will need more co-operation, not less. Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford Time is running out to get to net zero and avoid a climate disaster—Oxford is just one example of a co-operative city taking bold climate action.
29th October 2021 Celebrating Black History Month Cllr Anntoinette Bramble Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association It is critical that the untold stories of Black Britons are not just told but celebrated. Black History is intrinsically part of our British History and if these contributions are not known we are all robbed of our British History.
28th October 2021 Introducing mutual models within the English water industry could address the problems with our rivers and coasts Gareth Thomas Shadow Minister for International Trade That not a single river in England meets an acceptable standard of environmental health isn’t just of huge concern for the ecological and natural wellbeing of our waterways, but is further symptomatic of a broken water and sewage system in our country.
27th October 2021 The Budget was a real opportunity to scrap the unfair and broken business rates system Jim McMahon Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs We need fundamental reform – scrapping unfair and broken business rates system and replacing them with a new system which protects high streets, incentivises investment and rewarding businesses that reopen the shutters on empty shops.
25th October 2021 We must involve our rural communities in the fight for food justice Cllr Su Aves Councillor for St Sidwells & St James, Devon Joe Joseph Convenor of West County Labour and Co-operative Farming Policy Advisory Group (FPAG) Councillor Su Aves recently passed our Food Justice motion at Devon County Council and is now working with West County Labour and Co-operative Farming Policy Advisory Group (FPAG) to see how we can involve rural communities in the fight for food justice. Here, she writes with FPAG Convenor Joe Joseph on the challenges facing our food producers.
21st October 2021 Celebrating International Credit Union Day 2021: Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow Councillor Jim King Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Broughton (Salford) and former Chair & Board Member of Salford Credit Union Credit unions are our movement's best kept secret – on International Credit Union Day, the two million credit union members in Britain should celebrate their success.
19th October 2021 Five ways that we’ll keep Building Community Power Jim McMahon Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Although our Building Community Power conference is over, our work mustn’t stop there. Our exciting announcements will ensure that spirit of co-operation and the best ideas of our movement continue.
14th October 2021 Unlock the High Street – Breathe New Life into Communities Cllr Nick Small Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Central Ward, Liverpool High streets form the backdrop to our social life, the stage for our community action and the centrepiece of our civic pride.
13th October 2021 Things must change if we are to radically unlock the power of our high streets. Stephen Powers With the Budget coming up, we need a bold announcement from the Chancellor to give communities and bricks and mortar businesses a boost.
13th October 2021 What next? The Second Phase of Black Lives Matter – Black Women Alice Mpofu-Coles Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Whitley Ward We need to create spaces for black women to sit on the big tables in institutions, government and political parties.
12th October 2021 Wasting good food should never be cheaper than feeding people James Butler Campaigns Officer It’s incredible to think that thousands, if not, millions of tonnes of fresh food is left to rot when many families are struggling to afford to put food on the table.
11th October 2021 Celebrating co-operative achievements during Black History Month Cllr Lola Oyewusi Parish Councillor in Aylesford and Former Labour and Co-operative Candidate for Kent Police & Crime Commissioner I celebrate my co-operative values putting communities at the heart of what I do.
6th October 2021 Disappointed at attempt to kick Right to Food Bill into the Long Grass Rhoda Grant MSP MSP for Highlands and Islands SNP and Green MSPs vote for Rhoda Grant MSP to re-run consultation on the Right to Food Bill.
6th October 2021 Paul Sweeney MSP elected as Convener of Cross-Party Group on Co-operatives Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow Scottish Co-operative Party MSP becomes champion of the movement in the Scottish Parliament.
4th October 2021 Tackling Inequality and Poverty – The Case for Community Wealth Building Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow In the face of increasing inequality and poverty Paul Sweeney MSP makes a plea for a genuine Community Wealth Building Approach from the Scottish Government.
1st October 2021 Marking the start of Black History Month Professor Cecile Wright Chair of the Co-operative Party BAME Network A progressive black movement needs social class issues to be at the fore. This year’s recognition season would welcome the Co-operative Party in joining with us to celebrate Black history, culture, and achievements.
30th September 2021 Community Wealth and the Emergence of ‘Green Lairds’ Rhoda Grant MSP MSP for Highlands and Islands Faceless landowners are exploiting environmental grants and buying up land in the Highlands & Islands and extracting wealth from the community. Rhoda Grant MSP makes the case for genuine community ownership.
29th September 2021 Land Ownership Should Create Community Wealth Richard McCready Political Officer (Scotland) Scottish Co-operative Party MSP Rhoda Grant is leading a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday on the need for reform of the ownership of land in Scotland.
28th September 2021 Social or Co-operative Care? Miriam Ibberson Co-operative Party (dis)Ability Network Steering Committee The cost of social care currently is around £23.3 billion, although this may seem a lot, the Government has been cutting the social care budget over many years, leaving local authorities underfunded and unable to provide anything other than very basic essential care.
27th September 2021 Talking about violence against women and girls at Labour Party Conference Emily Spurrell Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside As a co-operator, I know that problems can’t be solved without co-operation, and partnership working underpins all of my work on tackling violence against women and girls.
27th September 2021 Co-operation at Labour Party Conference – Stronger Together Fringe Anna Birley The Co-operative Party co-hosted yesterday’s fringe event as part of Anneliese Dodds’ policy review, Stronger Together - showcasing the brilliant examples of co-operation across the UK.
24th September 2021 Labour’s ‘Stronger Together’ report showcases co-operation in practice Jim McMahon Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Co-operation sits at the very heart of the report, with examples of co-operative organisations, ideas and initiatives highlighting the incredible work being done by those in our movement.
23rd September 2021 Ferries won’t be made in Scotland despite Scottish Government owning the shipyard Neil Bibby MSP for West Scotland This announcement means more jobs and more money going overseas at a time of economic crisis.
22nd September 2021 First Meeting of the Diverse Council Working Group Chantal Lee Equalities Officer Expertly chaired by Cllr Anntoinette Bramble and Baroness Debbie Wilcox, this group of councillors will be meeting regularly over the next few months to develop a strategy for increasing diversity in council chambers across England.
22nd September 2021 Time is running out to tell the Government about Access to Cash in your community Meg Hillier Labour & Co-operative MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch and Chair, Public Accounts Committee It’s critical that you have your say and let the Government know just what an impact a move to a cashless society is having on you and your community.