26th August 2022 Why energy ownership matters Daniel Monaghan Policy Officer Without reform at every level of the energy market – generation, transmission, distribution and supply – we will be powerless to create a better energy system
17th August 2022 It’s time to scale up co-operative solutions to the energy crisis Emma Hoddinott Assistant General Secretary (Representation & Political Affairs) With a renewed focus from government and sustainable funding, our co-operative movement can play a bigger role in addressing the energy crisis.
3rd August 2022 Energy prices could double this winter, so why hasn’t the Household Support Fund been doubled too? Emma Hoddinott Assistant General Secretary (Representation & Political Affairs) Despite the incredible price and bill rises we’ve seen since last winter and with worse yet to come, the Government has only allocated £500 million to the Fund for this winter.
13th June 2022 The Government’s long-awaited Food Strategy does not take hunger seriously Emma Foody Assistant General Secretary (Membership & Organisation) When the Government's own food adviser and review author says that the Government's response is "not a strategy", is "not radical enough" and "needs to be much bolder”, then questions must be asked about how seriously the Government is taking the hunger crisis
12th April 2022 It’s no surprise that Co-operative councils are at the forefront of empowering communities to take control of their own energy production. James Butler Campaigns Officer Here are three examples of councils who have community energy at the heart of their local election manifesto this year.
18th March 2022 We’ve got a plan to change who produces and owns our energy. Will you back it? Georgia O’Brien Digital and Communications Manager To free ourselves from dependency on expensive and dangerous fossil fuels, we need to rapidly expand a cleaner, cheaper renewable energy system right here at home – owned and run by the people who depend on it.
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 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 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 benwest 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 benwest 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 benwest 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 benwest 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’ benwest 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 Shadow Armed Forces Minister In Plymouth, community energy is freeing people from fuel poverty and the extortion of the Big Six energy companies.