Must-read 6 Steps to Build Community WealthUsing what we already have to generate local economic growth co-operatively
17th April 2018 Co-operative Party publishes ‘Ownership Matters’ report, making the case for democratic public ownership benwest The Co-operative Party, Labour’s sister Party, has today published detailed proposals for new models of democratic public ownership for key industries including water, energy and rail.
5th April 2018 Britain won’t solve its productivity crisis unless employees get a real stake in their workplace Daniel Eggert The Chancellor isn’t wrong to talk about productivity in the UK – but he is missing a key part of the jigsaw by failing to promote employee ownership and co-operative models.
13th March 2018 Why ownership matters Dave Watson Head of Policy and Public Affairs at UNISON Scotland and Co-operative party member New ideas on economic policy are being applied in a practical way in Scotland, with a Labour Leadership which understands that ownership matters.
12th March 2018 Co-operative MPs call for release of lending blackspot data Archived: 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 benwest Co-operative Party General Secretary Claire McCarthy responds to the Shadow Chancellor's announcements today
10th February 2018 Making our vision of a co-operative economy into reality Claire McCarthy Former General Secretary As co-operators, we understand that practical actions, not just rhetoric, change our world. That's why today we take two important steps towards making plans to double the co-operative sector a reality
22nd January 2018 Gareth Thomas demands high-cost lenders pay for the damage they cause Archived: 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.
9th January 2018 As the world’s financial capital, London can lead the way in creating a banking system that works for the rest of us Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer A London Assembly report has set out a path towards the kind of diverse and socially-oriented banking system seen in successful economies such as Germany
29th November 2017 After a wasted decade, the route to recovery lies in sharing ownership with employees Anna Heard By focusing on the needs of business and the commanding heights of the economy, the Government's Industrial Strategy ignores the real solutions to the productivity crisis.
16th November 2017 Apps don’t exploit people, broken markets do. Anna Heard Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer As technological change transforms the workplace, some would like you to believe that exploitation is an inevitable consequence. Co-operatives and trade unions are showing it doesn't have to be.
6th November 2017 Accidental tax avoidance? In a system this broken it’s easy – just ask the Queen. Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer We're rightly outraged by a broken system - but it falls to all of us to hard-wire accountability and responsibility back in.
30th June 2017 A race to the bottom or building wealth co-operatively? The choice is ours. Anna Birley For decades, communities have been told that their only option for regeneration is to compete against one another to incentivise big business to set up shop, and that waiting for inward investment is the only path to growth. But the race to the bottom could soon be over, thanks to a new approach that puts local people at the heart of rebuilding their local economy.
11th May 2017 5 things the next Parliament can do to put fairness and equality at the heart of Britain’s economy Anna Birley As Britain's economy stares into the abyss, it's time for us to be ambitious - by doubling the size of the co-operative and mutual sector, we can create the fairer kind of economy that millions of us need
10th April 2017 Barcelona has always been a centre of radicalism. Now the City’s €1bn spending power is being used to build a more democratic economy. Anna Birley Procurement may not capture the imagination, but Barcelona is using it to limit the dominance of big busines and support the social and sharing economy in the City.
29th March 2017 Ownership matters, because who owns a business dictates in whose interests it is run. Claire McCarthy Former General Secretary For a long time, progressives have rightly been concerned about ownership in the public sector and with who owns our public services. But delivering our vision of a fairer, more equal society means paying attention to who owns the private sector too.
28th March 2017 1.7million people don’t have access to banking. How do we ensure financial services aren’t just for the rich? Joe Fortune General Secretary A recent report from the House of Lords sets out some of the steps the Government can take to tackle the growing problem of Financial Exclusion
7th March 2017 The Government says it’s serious about giving back control. Here’s how they can prove it. Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer A year ago, Theresa May pledged to build a ‘country that works for everyone’. This Wednesday, the government will present its final Budget before we formally begin the process of leaving the EU. It’s more urgent than ever that the government uses this budget to build a fairer, more united Britain.
17th February 2017 John McDonnell pledges funding for a new generation of ‘co-operatively owned’ Ubers and AirBnBs benwest Platform apps like Uber and Airbnb should be owned co-operatively by their employees and users, the Shadow Chancellor argued today, pledging to unlock new sources of funding for their development.
15th February 2017 The labour and co-operative movements were formed out of the first industrial revolution. Now we must adapt to the next. Tom Watson MP Automation and artificial intelligence are likely to transform the world of work every bit as profoundly as mechanisation shaped the 19th century.
7th February 2017 Tackling tax avoiders must be at the heart of a co-operative vision for a fair economy Richard Murphy For too long tax avoidance has gone unchecked. It's time to put fair tax at the heart of our fight for a fair society.
6th February 2017 In Our Interests: Co-operative Party economy conference James Scott Following last week's economy conference in London, policy officer James Scott provides a summary of the day's activity.
2nd February 2017 There has never been a greater need for a new economy than right now Marc Stears In the midst of all the upheaval that will last for years, a surge of constructive energy is being generated across Britain that can crack open new possibilities for change
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. Archived: 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.
24th November 2016 A global race to the bottom is avoidable – together we have the power to re-write the rules Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford Inequality is neither inevitable nor irreversible. We co-operators have the power to change course and rewrite the rules.
21st November 2016 May’s u-turn on employee representation a missed opportunity to boost economy James Scott At her speech at the CBI, the Prime Minister appeared to suggest that a push for employees on company boards would threaten growth. Far from it - the business case for employee representation is clear.
18th November 2016 A future economy built on low-paid, insecure work isn’t inevitable – it’s a choice. Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer The Pensions Secretary may be 'excited' by an economy based on insecure employment and low wages - but the co-operative movement shows another future is possible.
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.
24th October 2016 Inequality is a choice – and overcoming it means rewriting the rules by which businesses operate Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford The Prime Minister's proposals for employees on company boards is welcome - but if we're serious about tackling inequality, reforms to corporate governance must go much further
3rd August 2016 Co-op councillors demand suppliers pay their fair share of tax Emma Hoddinott Assistant General Secretary (Representation & Political Affairs) Co-operative councillors in Salford and Durham tighten procurement rules to ensure suppliers are transparent in their tax affairs
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