Must-read 6 Steps to Build Community WealthUsing what we already have to generate local economic growth co-operatively
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.
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
21st November 2018 Doubling the size of the co‑operative sector in our countryside David Drew Labour & Co-operative MP for Stroud and Shadow Minister for Farming and Rural Affairs In this week's committee debate on the Government's Agriculture Bill, I argued that more co-operatives would deliver a fairer and more resilient sector which works for farmers. Our proposed amendment would provide agricultural co-operatives with the funding, support and protection they need to thrive.
27th September 2018 “Why on earth shouldn’t the people who create the wealth own the wealth that they create?”, asks Richard Leonard Richard McCready Political Officer
11th September 2018 Promoting local, co-operatively-owned campaigning journalism Richard McCready Political Officer How do we ensure that technological, cultural and economic changes empower people rather than oppress them? This was the task which Jeremy Corbyn set himself at a recent lecture on the media in Edinburgh.
30th July 2018 Andy Burnham announces Co-operative Commission to ensure Manchester ‘the most co-operative’ region of UK Co-operative Party Labour & Co-operative Mayor announces the launch of a Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission to be delivered in partnership with the Co-operative Party.
3rd July 2018 Does size matter? Ben West Communications & Digital Officer On top of the advantages of the co-operative model itself, it's clear that a significantly larger co-operative sector can 'ripple out', helping to transform the economy as a whole.
3rd July 2018 Launch of Independent Report on Doubling the Size of the Co-operative Sector Co-operative Party New Economics Foundation (NEF) think tank launches its independent report on doubling the UK's co-operative sector, commissioned by the Co-operative Party
25th June 2018 Government plans to strengthen the Social Value Act Joe Fortune National Political and Policy Manager The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster speaks to the ‘Reform’ think tank about re-building trust in public procurement post-Carillion.
21st June 2018 Scots want to see governments intervene more robustly to encourage responsible tax palnning by business Richard McCready Political Officer
30th May 2018 1000 businesses, workers and organisations call for law change to protect shop-workers Richard McCready Political Officer A consultation carried out by Daniel Johnson MSP has found overwhelming support for a change in the law to protect staff selling age-restricted products from violence, threats and abusive behaviour.
25th May 2018 Credit unions demonstate why ownership matters Kezia Dugdale Labour & Co-operative MSP for Lothian It's up to all of us to ensure the Scottish Government works to provide more ethical and affordable alternatives in our communities.
12th March 2018 Co-operative MPs call for release of lending blackspot data Ben West Communications & Digital Officer This evening Co-operative MPs will call in Parliament for the release of data revealing which parts of the country are being targeted by high-cost lenders, and which have been abandoned by big banks as a result of branch closures.
10th February 2018 Co-operative Party commissions independent report on expansion of co-operative sector Co-operative Party Co-operative Party General Secretary Claire McCarthy responds to the Shadow Chancellor's announcements today
22nd January 2018 Gareth Thomas demands high-cost lenders pay for the damage they cause Ben West Communications & Digital Officer In Parliament this afternoon, Co-operative Party Chair Gareth Thomas called for high-cost lenders such as BrightHouse to be required to pay towards the cost of providing debt advice for hard-pressed consumers.
2nd November 2017 Regulators just fined BrightHouse for vulture lending practices. Here’s how we take them off the high street for good. Anna Heard With the FCA clamping down on rent-to-own lenders, credit unions are taking them on with a fair and ethical alternative of their own.
4th October 2017 Social tenants have been ignored for too long – it’s time for Theresa May to bring back the National Tenant Voice Ben West Communications & Digital Officer The Co-operative Party has written to Prime Minister calling for her to re-establish the National Tenant Voice organisation that was disbanded by the Coalition Government in which she served.
23rd March 2017 Trickle down economics is dead, and community wealth is replacing it. Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Emma Hoddinott Local Government Officer Over the past week, we've welcomed Ted Howard, founder of the Democracy Collaborative, to the UK to learn more about a model which is making policy makers across the political spectrum in the US sit up and take notice, and seeing what the lessons might be for communities the UK.
13th February 2017 Tech giants make billions from our most intimate personal data. Isn’t it time we took back control? Hugh Goulbourne From what we buy and eat to how we sleep and socialise, big data is transforming our lives. And through data co-operatives, we have the chance to ensure it benefits us all, not just big business
10th February 2017 Pushing the Scottish Government to go further to support co-operatives Richard McCready Political Officer This week the Scottish Parliament examined the Scottish Government's plans to support co-operative and social enterprise in Scotland. So why does the paper fail to include any mention of the development body the scottish government established to do just that?
10th January 2017 It’s time to enable small businesses to work together to get a better deal from banks. Christina Rees Small and medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of the UK economy. Enabling them to support one another via mutual guarantee societies will ensure we all benefit from the jobs and investment they create.
13th December 2016 Germany has thousands of banks. The UK has just five, and it’s strangling our economy. Ben West Communications & Digital Officer On a recent trip to Germany, we saw the difference a diverse, public-driven banking system can make. Now this week Co-operative MPs have been working to bring these approaches to the UK.
2nd December 2016 Calling time on nuisance callers James Kelly Labour and Co-operative MSP for Glasgow Our co-operative movement has long been at the forefront of protecting consumers - and it's time for co-operators to take the lead in tackling nuisance calls.
14th November 2016 Texan taxi drivers are showing there’s a co-operative alternative to the Uber economy Virginia Doherty A co-operative owned by taxi drivers in Austin Texas is putting them back in control of fares, fees and working conditions - enabling them to serve communities left behind by ride-sharing apps
11th November 2016 Small businesses in Europe work together to access finance and share risk – why shouldn’t those in the UK? Virginia Doherty Too often, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to access the finance they need to grow. But in Europe, mutual guarantee societies provide a solution we can learn from.
7th November 2016 To double the size of the co-operative economy, we need to clear the roadblocks that stand in the way Co-operative Party A Bill to be introduced by Labour & Co-operative MPs tomorrow aims to cut back red tape and bring regulation of co-ops in line with other types of businesses
20th October 2016 We were successful in regulating pay-day lenders. But this International Credit Union day, there’s still more to do. Ed Miliband International Credit Union day is our chance to celebrate how far we've come - and to raise public awareness too.
18th October 2016 The Government says it wants to encourage more of us to save – credit unions must be part of the solution Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Help to Save is a huge opportunity to further support and expand credit unions - and Co-operative MPs are working to ensure they're included in the Government's plans
5th July 2016 Co-operative MPs tell government to back mutual solution to financial exclusion Co-operative Party As traditional banks abandon many of our poorest communities, Co-operative MPs have called for financial mutuals such as building societies and credit unions to take their place.
21st June 2016 Co-operative MSPs Mark Co-operatives Fortnight Johann Lamont Chair, Co-operative Party Scottish Parliament Group Co-operatives have a long and distinguished history in Scotland - but it is important that the Scottish Government and local authorities look to promote co-operatives in twenty-first century Scotland too.
Co-operatives Unleashed: Doubling the size of the UK’s Co-operative SectorAn independent report from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) commissioned by the Co-operative Party
6 Steps to Build Community WealthUsing what we already have to generate local economic growth co-operatively
A co-operative plan for a Britain where power and wealth are sharedThe Co-operative Party's policy platform in advance of the 2017 General Election