Must-read 6 Steps to Build Community WealthUsing what we already have to generate local economic growth co-operatively
20th September 2021 The Scottish Government can’t sit on its hands whilst Universal Credit is cut Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP for the Glasgow region and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice & Social Security The UK Government must reinstate the uplift before they plunge more people into poverty, and the Scottish Government must get a move on and use the social security powers that it has.
14th September 2021 The uplift in universal credit is essential for families the country Ben Bellamy Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Belper North Trussell Trust research shows that 1.2m people fear that they will be forced to skip meals if the cut goes ahead and 1.3m people fear being unable to heat their homes this winter.
13th September 2021 The “Ghosted Generation” need to be brought out of the shadows Georgia Horsfall Communications Assistant Young people have been among some of the hardest hit by the effects of the pandemic, both socially and economically - any recovery plan needs to have young people's interests and worries in mind.
9th September 2021 A worker buyout law is vital to saving businesses and jobs in Scotland Paul Sweeney MSP for Glasgow Workers should be assisted to take over their place of work when they face the threat of redundancy.
8th September 2021 We should support worker buyouts with a British Marcora Law Christina Rees Shadow Secretary of State for Wales A Marcora law is just one of the ways we could build a fairer, more democratic economy. Now is the time to rewrite the rules, and be inspired by the best of the bold ideas in our movement.
11th June 2021 This Fair Tax Mark Week, Birmingham has shown that action can be taken at a local level Cllr Tristan Chatfield Labour Councillor for Weoley & Selly Oak, Birmingham City Council This week, Birmingham has committed to being part of a growing network of local councils that support responsible tax conduct.
10th June 2021 The global deal on tax reform is a step forward – but we can and must be more ambitious Anna Birley Policy Officer What appears to be a campaign win for fair tax campaigners is actually not as straightforward as that. Yes, the agreement is a big deal and major step forward. But it is not big enough, and critical parts have been watered down.
5th March 2021 Beyond the headlines: a budget that doesn’t call time on inequality Anna Birley Policy Officer We know that our co-operative movement, and its values and principles, hold the key to a fairer, more sustainable recovery. But, analysing this week's budget shows that behind the headlines, this budget falls short.
2nd March 2021 Long Read: How could tomorrow’s budget hardwire fairness into our economy? Anna Birley Policy Officer Tomorrow's budget comes at a critical moment for our country - and it must call time on inequality, and rebuild a fairer economy which is based on our co-operative values of sharing power and wealth - giving every community a stake and a say and ensuring no-one is excluded.
17th December 2020 When the need is greater than ever, why is LV= demutualising? Joe Fortune General Secretary Despite the social circumstance which should make them more vital and necessary than ever, the economic system is still skewed against mutuals, co-operatives and non-traditional profit-maximising financial firms.
30th November 2020 Let’s level the playing field for co-operative and mutual banks Stella Creasy Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow & Co-op Party NEC Member for London A historic technicality is holding the co-operative banking sector back – so I'm putting forward an amendment to change it,
18th June 2020 Four out of five Scots agree: no bailouts for tax avoiders Rhoda Grant MSP MSP for Highlands and Islands
8th May 2020 Consumer Scotland needs to deliver for Scottish consumers Jackie Baillie Member of the Scottish Parliament
2nd May 2020 Scottish Government Must Deliver For Scotland’s “Frontline” Councils Sarah Boyack MSP for Lothian
27th March 2020 Lowest Earners and the Self-Employed will bear the Finanical Brunt of Covid-19 Rhoda Grant MSP MSP for Highlands and Islands It is clear that it will be these households that will bear the financial brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and that there exists the clear and present danger that these households may slip into poverty.
11th March 2020 If this is genuinely a levelling-up budget, then business rate reform must be at the top of the agenda Jim McMahon Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Town centres are the beating heart of communities - but they are struggling to survive, especially in our most deprived neighbourhoods. Business rate reform is critical to save the sector and support our town centres.
10th March 2020 Now more than ever, the Chancellor should learn lessons from the co-operative sector Jonathan Reynolds Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Co-operation offers an antidote to many of the economy's failings, from poor productivity to corporate tax avoidance - so this budget should learn the lessons offered by the co-operative sector.
27th February 2020 Not another quango – Consumer Scotland must empower consumers Jackie Baillie Member of the Scottish Parliament For a body dealing with consumer issues, it is important that consumers are represented.
6th February 2020 Scottish Co-op MSPs challenge the Scottish Government to stop the cuts to our communities Rhoda Grant MSP MSP for Highlands and Islands Sarah Boyack MSP for Lothian It is high time that the SNP Government provided councils with the resources that they need and bring an end to the age of austerity in our councils.
5th February 2020 How will new Scottish National Investment Bank support co-ops? Claudia Beamish MSP for South Scotland and Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change It is important that co-operatives and mutually owned businesses are recognised and encouraged through the Scottish National Investment Bank.
16th January 2020 Now we’re (sausage) rolling: Greggs shares its profits Ian Hayes Policy Intern Greggs, the high street baker renowned for steak bakes and sending Piers Morgan into a rage over vegetable-based flakey pastry, announced last week they were sharing their better than expected profits with their workforce.
22nd October 2019 Does your morning coffee contribute its fair share of tax? John Lehal Every time we shop, we have a choice to make. Do we choose to shop with businesses who pay their fair share of tax, or do we choose to contribute to the profits of firms registered in tax havens, with complex structures that help them pay lower taxes?
8th April 2019 Switching the UK onto mutual credit Oliver Sylvester-Bradley Co-Founder of The Open Co-op The Open Credit Network is changing the way businesses trade, launching a mutual credit trading scheme to support co-ops and SMEs. Guest contributor Oliver Sylvester-Bradley explains.
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.
14th March 2019 The People’s Money – Financial Institutions that serve people and their communities Richard McCready Political Officer (Scotland) At the Scottish Labour Conference last weekend in Dundee we held a very successful fringe meeting titled, 'The People’s Money'.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
Policy paper: an economy where wealth and power are sharedPolicy paper drawing on members' submissions, which forms the basis of policy debate 2 at 2018 Annual Conference