A Co-operative Party fit to change Britain

The next government will face a unique set of challenges, tasked with reversing a decline in living standards, promoting economic growth, and ensuring that the proceeds of that growth are used to build a fairer and stronger society. The difficult economic situation also means that many of the tools previously used to achieve these aims – including tax credits and increased spending on public services – will be severely restricted.

Such a an environment leaves us with no choice but to tackle the underlying issues, rebalancing the economy in favour of the ordinary people and consumers. The next government will therefore need to be a reforming one, working to change how our institutions, economy and society work from the ground-up, making them accountable to the interests of the individuals and communities they serve.

We also know that community ownership is only meaningful when accompanied  by robust support frameworks, participation and local democratic control.

As the response to Ed Miliband’s announcement on energy bills in Brighton last week showed, the electorate believe that the old system of private interests squeezing consumers and holding the country to ransom is fundamentally broken. It’s also notable that Co-operative Energy was almost a lone voice in supporting the proposal.

We at the Co-operative Party believe that at this turning point, we have a story to tell and practical solutions to offer. As an independent political party in electoral partnership with the Labour Party, we are the political arm of the Co-operative Movement. The Co-operative Movement has millions of members nationwide, with the sector contributing over £35bn to the UK economy each year.

Co-operation provides a framework for delivering services which are democratically accountable to their users, driven by the people they serve, and grounded in the original Rochdale principles of equality, equity, democracy and solidarity, as well as self-help and self-responsibility.

With 32 Labour Co-op MPs in Westminster, a strong team in the Lords and significant representation in Scotland, Wales and local councils, the room for our ideas has never been greater. In key issue areas, we have policies capable of delivering the change we need: providing affordable access to credit as an alternative to predatory payday lenders; making our railways more affordable through mutual ownership; increasing the accountability of schools to communities, parents and pupils through co-operative schools and giving football fans a real stake in the clubs which have treated them as cash cows for too long.

That is the Co-operative vision, and one which we and our members will be meeting in Edinburgh this weekend at our annual conference to discuss and debate. As the political diversity of our elected representatives shows, a co-operative approach spans the political spectrum, cutting through the tired old rhetoric of  markets vs. state, and generating practical solutions for communities across the country. Over the next few days, figures from across the party will be posting a flavour of our thinking here on LabourList. We look forward to you joining the discussion.

Karin Christiansen is General Secretary of The Co-operative Party. Over the weekend we’ll be running a number of posts for a “Co-op weekend” to coincide with their conference.