Featured campaign The government is nuking community energy: don’t let them get away with it.Government policy is quietly wiping out community-owned renewable energy. Help us make sure they don’t get away with it. In recent years, the UK has seen an explosion in the number of energy projects owned by local people. From windfarms in Scotland to solar panels on tower block roofs in Brixton, local people are standing
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.
14th September 2021 Urgent and bold action is needed to avert climate catastrophe Monica Lennon MSP for Central Scotland With all eyes on Scotland ahead of COP26, it has never been more important to meet our obligations to the world and set an example. This means taking an unequivocal position on new oil and gas plans like the proposed Cambo oil field.
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.
5th November 2019 Working co-operatively for sustainable and just food systems Poppy Nicol Alice Taherzadeh Our new report suggests co-operative ways of working could and should play an important role in fostering sustainable and just food systems in Wales.
26th April 2019 Reaching consensus in tackling climate change through Citizens Assemblies Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford Building on the Co-operative Party’s longstanding commitment to action on climate change and our belief that we can achieve more for our environment when working co-operatively than we can alone, I’m pleased to be outlining plans for a Citizens Assembly for dealing with our climate crisis.
25th January 2019 Oxford race ahead in cutting emissions 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 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.
21st November 2018 Doubling the size of the co‑operative sector in our countryside David Drew 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.
6th September 2018 Ofgem’s energy price cap is a sticking plaster on a broken industry Anna Birley Policy Officer While £75 off bills is a welcome short-term fix, our energy industry desperately needs an overhaul. Democratic public ownership, where customers and workers have a say and a stake in where their energy comes from, is the only way to ensure a "fair" tariff.
5th September 2018 The water industry is in desperate need of reform, but South West Water’s consumer share offer is too little too late Anna Birley Policy Officer While South West Water's consumer share offer looks good on paper, in practice it amounts to little more than a cheap gimmick. The broken water industry needs deeper reform which truly puts ownership back into the hands of customers and workers.
14th June 2018 Bringing co-operation home David Drew In the current parliament, once we cut through the Gordian knot of Brexit, real progress could be accomplished if we as co-operators can organise effectively.
20th November 2017 Why Britain’s big energy companies are celebrating Christmas early – and what we can do about it. Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Anna Heard As the UK's big energy companies celebrate record profits, an energy co-operative in New Zealand is showing what happens when we make customers the shareholders.
15th February 2017 Postcards from Germany: an energy revolution, and how it happened Archived: Ben West Communications & Digital Officer In recent months, a delegation from the Party, in partnership with FES, investigated how co-operative and mutual approaches are key to Germany’s economic success. So what are the lessons for the UK? In the first of a two part series, Communications Officer Ben West looks at what we can learn from Germany's community energy revolution.
19th January 2016 Energy Bill risks centralising energy supply Co-operative Party The Energy Bill is a missed opportunity to create a more diverse, less centralised energy system Co-operative MP Jonathan Reynolds warns Parliament
13th January 2016 Public enthusiasm fuels community energy schemes Co-operative Party Social enterprise Energy4All announces £5.5m of community investment, amidst government attacks on sector
6th January 2016 Co-operatives key to climate justice in Scotland Claudia Beamish MSP for South Scotland and Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change Sarah Boyack Co-operatives must play a central role in ensuring the transition to a low-carbon economy is a just one.
15th December 2015 Door still open for community energy U-turn Co-operative Party Co-operative MP Stephen Doughty continues to push government on community energy
20th November 2015 George Osborne is trying to destroy community energy Clive Lewis MPClive Lewis is a Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change The public, business and politicians agree Government should be doing all it can to support community energy.
3rd November 2015 Chancellor: End the attack on community energy Co-operative Party Letter from Gavin Shuker MP to Chancellor George Osborne on recent cuts in support for community energy
3rd June 2015 Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative Lesley Hinds Together, we're delivering one of the largest community-owned urban renewable energy projects in the UK
14th December 2014 UK citizens should have a legally enforced right to invest in renewable energy Ramsay Dunning The Co-operative Energy is delighted to support the launch of The Co-operative Party’s latest community energy pamphlet – “The Next Generation”.
14th December 2014 The Co-operative Party and SERA set out plan to turn ‘Big Six’ into ‘Big Six Thousand’ Co-operative Party The Co-operative Party and SERA have set out plans to develop a 'Big Six Thousand' of community-owned energy suppliers
11th September 2014 Power belongs to the people – not in Westminster or Holyrood Richard McCready Political Officer (Scotland) We believe that power belongs not in Westminster or Holyrood or even in Scotland’s town halls. Power belongs to the people.
13th May 2014 Unlocking finance for clean energy Ramsay Dunning The government needs to unlock potential of crowdfunding and provide a much needed boost to community energy
7th April 2014 People Powered Power for Plymouth Luke Pollard In Plymouth, community energy is freeing people from fuel poverty and the extortion of the Big Six energy companies.
31st January 2014 Big Energy Saving Week Jonathan Reynolds Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy After a successful Big Energy Saving Week, still more needs to be done to keep energy bills under control.
27th January 2014 Government policy undermining energy saving Ewan Jones Government policy has driven SME businesses onto the rocks, while the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers sail serenely on.
3rd December 2013 Beyond the Big Six Gareth Thomas Shadow Minister for International Trade Energy co-operatives can deliver a better deal for consumers - but to take on the big 6, they need greater support.
11th June 2013 Lack of commitment from Government on Energy Bill Joe Fortune General Secretary Energy Bill fails to provide much-needed support for co-operative and community energy schemes
20th December 2012 Labour Co-operative MPs call for commitment to co-ops in Energy Bill debate Joe Fortune General Secretary