Co-operative Party

On Monday, we welcomed the first ever Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister in Number 10. Since then, we've had a new government appointed – and this is what those first few days have meant for us: A quarter of all Cabinet positions are now held by Co-operative Party representatives. That's 7 Cabinet members in Government alongside 8 Ministers of State, 4 Government Whips and 6 Parliamentary Under-Secretaries across 15 Government Departments and Offices. We've got more Cabinet members and more Ministers across more government departments than at any point in our history. So what does that mean for us? For Co-operative campaigns and making a real difference where it matters most? It means we have experienced co-operators like Rt. Hon. Jonathan Reynolds MP championing co-operatives and mutuals as Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It means we have committed community energy supporters like Miatta Fahnbulleh MP representing our values as Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero It means pillars of our Party – like our Chair Jim McMahon MP – will give a strong voice to communities in his role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It means our voice being heard across almost every sector. From education under Lucy Powell MP to justice under Alex Norris MP. We are being heard throughout the UK, including Scotland under continuing Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander MP and across both chambers with Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Smith. And that is just a small sample of the total skills and experience that the many other fantastic Co-operative ministers and elected representatives will bring to their new Departments. This first week has been incredibly exciting for our movement and our Party. We're in a better position than ever before to turn our Co-operative priorities into government policy.

I am absolutely delighted to be taking up a new post (on which more later) so I will no longer be the Minister for Scotland in the Scotland Office. I have so enjoyed working with (and being challenged by) people from across Scotland’s businesses, trade unions, representative organisations, universities, colleges, arts and heritage sector, trade bodies, local authorities, charities, faith groups, co-ops, veterans’ organisations and community groups. I hope all of you know how much I appreciate your work and that you will always have a friend and a champion in me. From the Western Isles to the Borders and everywhere in between, I’ve been privileged to meet so many people working to change the places they love for the people they love. Thank you for hosting me in your workplaces, community centres and farms and for always indulging my firm instruction that nobody can leave a Scotland Office event without meeting at least one new person. Hopefully the connections you’ve made at Queen Elizabeth House, Dover House or one of our roundtables and receptions will bear fruit for Scotland for many years to come. While work developing the Pride in Place programme or promoting Brand Scotland overseas has been higher profile, it’s actually the quiet conversations where I’ve been able to get under the skin of your issues and connect you to the right people to get things done that have meant the most to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Obviously I remain a Scottish Labour Party and Co-operative Party MP and the very proud representative for Midlothian so if there is ever anything I can do for you in any of those capacities please do let me know. 

Congratulations to Co-operative Party MP Andy Burnham on his election as Leader of the Labour Party. For the first time ever, a Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament will become Prime Minister.

The Co-operative Party is pleased to support Labour and Co-operative MP Andy Burnham for Leader of the Labour Party. If successful, Andy Burnham will be the first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister in history.

The Government has introduced new measures to help building societies grow and expand the member-owned financial services in the UK. We’re working toward co-operative growth by building a financial system that works with our sector.

Peace isn't just the absence of war, it's rebuilt through co-operation. We've made that case, backing peacebuilding co-ops from the Middle East to post-war Ukraine. Alex Sobel MP's report from the Ukraine Recovery Conference shows why that argument is winning.

When communities generate their own clean energy, they cut bills and take control of local assets, keeping the returns where they belong. That's what puts the real power in the Local Power Plan, backing everything from village halls to local initiatives.

In person in the North East and digitally in Yorkshire, co-operators came together last month to make the case for a Community Britain: communities with more power, more ownership, and more say over the places they call home.

What does a 25-year plan for farming actually look like? It looks like putting co-op farming at the heart of Britain's agricultural future. We visited Europe's largest dairy co-op with Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Stephen Morgan MP, to see how the co-operative model delivers the stability and fairness farming needs.

What would it mean to have the first Labour and Co-operative prime minister? Our General Secretary Joe Fortune discusses this landmark moment for the Huffington Post UK. https://lnkd.in/e4wcuca2