22nd May 2019 Eating or heating? United Nations report shames government on extreme poverty James Butler Campaigns Officer Glue that has held society together "deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos" says Philip Aston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. Help us push the government on zero hunger.
15th February 2019 Votes at 16 in Wales will strengthen our democracy – it’s time for Westminster to follow our lead James Cleverley Member of Co-operative Party Youth Committee Co-operative politics is about sharing power and giving a voice to ordinary people on the decisions that impact them. Wales is leading the way, with new legislation introduced to the Welsh Assembly this week to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote - and it's time for Westminster to do the same.
12th February 2019 A co-operative future for childcare Tracy Brabin Co-operative MP for Batley & Spen and Shadow Early Years Minister Shadow Early Years Minister Tracy Brabin has been exploring co-operative approaches to creating more affordable, inclusive and accountable childcare provision
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 Labour & Co-op MP for Rutherglen & Hamilton West. 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.
17th December 2018 Supporting the UK’s fishing co-operatives Ben West Communications & Digital Officer It is one thing to declare the UK an 'independent coastal state'. But it is UK policymakers who will shape what that means in practice
14th December 2018 Co-operators in the House Co-operative Party Just a year after it was established, the Co-operative Party elected its first MP with Alfred Waterson winning the Kettering seat at the December 1918 election. Now his achievement is being recognised with a portrait in Parliament.
6th November 2018 The Government’s Tenant Fees Bill fails to live up to the hype Lord Kennedy of Southwark Lords Opposition Spokesperson on Communities and Local Government, Housing and Home Affairs. Roy Kennedy on yet another government housing bill that fails to live up to the hype
2nd November 2018 When people look at their town, it is a test for what the future holds for their place and their community Jim McMahon Chair Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister Communities and Local Government Speech by Jim McMahon MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group in this week's Budget debate
29th October 2018 Budget 2018: Ending austerity means building a co‑operative economy Jim McMahon Chair Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister Communities and Local Government Response to today's UK Budget from Co‑operative Party Parliamentary Chair, Jim McMahon MP
8th October 2018 We need to work together to keep shop workers safe Cllr Emily Spurrell Labour & Co-operative Party Councillor for Mossley Hill Ward & Merseyside Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Police, businesses and many other agencies need to work together to tackle offenders and keep workers safe. And we need a properly funded police service so shop workers get the right response, when they need it.
12th June 2018 To build a more equal world, we need a renewed emphasis on co-operative development Preet Gill Labour & Co-operative MP for Birmingham Edgbaston and Shadow Minister for International Development We know that co-operatives can help to deliver a fairer global economy, which is why under the next Labour government, DfID will make place a new emphasis on developing and supporting co-operative enterprises around the world.
11th June 2018 ‘Why can’t it be a co-op?’ It’s time to advocate for large-scale mutualisation Luke Pollard Labour & Co-operative MP for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport Labour needs to be very cautious that in ending rail privatisation we are not simply holding the assets on ice for the Tories to re-privatise later.
23rd May 2018 Tenant fees are out of control – I’ll work with renters to deliver a better deal Lloyd Russell-Moyle Labour & Co-operative MP for Brighton Kemptown While it’s right that we tackle unfair lettings fees, the Government’s new bill doesn’t go far enough to protect private renters.
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.
7th March 2018 Campaign success: Sainsbury’s told to stop advertising ‘Fairly Traded’ non-Fairtrade tea Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Sainsbury's supermarket has been ordered to stop using the misleading 'Fairly Traded' label in adverts for its own-brand tea, in a campaign victory for Co-operative Party MPs, activists and campaigners this Fairtrade Fortnight.
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.
3rd November 2017 Co-operative Party Youth Back Votes at 16 Stephen Stanners Co-Chair – Co-op Party Youth Thomas Renhard South West Youth Representative Today Parliament will debate a Bill tabled by Labour & Co-operative MP Jim McMahon, which could see an end to the block on votes for 16 and 17 year-olds. Here, two members of the Co-operative Party Youth Committee share their thoughts on the Bill.
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.
31st October 2017 Q&A Anneliese Dodds MP Joe Fortune National Political and Policy Manager Anneliese Dodds As an MEP, Anneliese Dodds championed causes including Tax Justice and Fairtrade. Now, as Labour & Co-operative MP for Oxford East, she’s taking the fight to Westminster. Joe Fortune caught up with her to hear more about her plans.
19th October 2017 Whitehall didn’t understand the co-op movement in 1917 and it doesn’t now either. We’re here to change that. Gareth Thomas Chair of the Co-operative Party, Labour & Co-operative MP for Harrow West Co-operative Party Chair Gareth Thomas' speech at Centenary Conference on Saturday 14th October
11th September 2017 Imagine you lost everything. Would 45 days be enough to get your life back on track? Tom Hayes Oxford City Councillor for St. Clement's Ward Co-operators are helping to lead the fight against modern slavery - but we must ensure the Government does much more to support its victims.
8th September 2017 Modern slavery is a scourge of our time. It’s time to change the law to guarantee its victims the chance to rebuild their lives. Lord Kennedy of Southwark Lords Opposition Spokesperson on Communities and Local Government, Housing and Home Affairs. The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill begins its passage through Parliament in the House of Lords today, and I and other Labour and Coop MPs and Peers will be working with Lord McColl of Dulwich, the Bill's sponsor, to ensure that it becomes law in this Parliamentary session.
15th June 2017 1.3 million people voted Co-operative last Thursday – and with you, our voice can be even stronger. Shane Brogan Membership & Member Mobilisation Manager By becoming a member of the Co-operative Party, you can add your voice to a movement that is now the third largest political grouping in Westminster
12th June 2017 Record number of Co-operative Party MPs elected Ben West Communications & Digital Officer Thursday's General Election returned 38 Labour & Co-operative Members of Parliament - the largest Parliamentary Group in the Party's 100 year history.
11th May 2017 5 things the next Parliament can do to put fairness and equality at the heart of Britain’s economy Anna Birley Policy Officer 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 May 2017 A plan for a co-operative Britain where power and wealth are shared Co-operative Party The Co-operative Party publishes its policy platform in advance of the 2017 General Election
8th May 2017 2017 General Election candidates announced Co-operative Party Today we're pleased to announce the team of 51 candidates who have been selected to represent the Co-operative Party in the upcoming General Election on the 8th of June.
19th April 2017 Party Chair Gareth Thomas responds to the Prime Ministers’ Call for a General Election Gareth Thomas Chair of the Co-operative Party, Labour & Co-operative MP for Harrow West The Co-operative Party will take the opportunity this election affords to make the case for an economy and society where power and wealth are more equally shared.
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 National Political and Policy Manager 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
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.
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