Politics That Belongs to Us

In an age of disconnection and distrust, the Co-operative movement offers a way to reimagine politics, not as something distant, divisive, or inaccessible, but as something rooted in everyday life.

According to The Observer, Co-op values are quietly reshaping how we govern: ownership, dignity, and belonging, not as buzzwords, but as tools for practical change.

These values speak to more than policy. They speak to how we live together.

Ownership in the Co-operative tradition is not about accumulating assets. It is about distributing agency. When communities own local pubs, green spaces, or energy projects, they become stewards of their future. Decisions are made by those who use and rely on these resources, not by distant shareholders or short-term interests. Ownership fosters long-term thinking, care, and resilience.

Dignity is expressed through democratic control. In co-operatives, every member has an equal vote, regardless of wealth, status, or background. This creates institutions where people are heard, respected, and involved. It is also about economic dignity, offering fair wages, inclusive services, and ethical alternatives where traditional markets fall short.

Belonging grows when people feel connected to the places and processes that shape their lives. Community ownership fosters identity and pride, especially when it reflects local culture, history, and values. And when people are supported with education, training, and information, their participation becomes meaningful, not symbolic.

These values help restore something deeper: trust. Trust in each other, and in the idea that politics can be fair, transparent, and rooted in everyday experience. That trust is not a by-product. It is the foundation of democratic renewal.

The upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, shaped by Co-op ministers like Jim McMahon and Alex Norris, reflects this shift. It aims to rewire England’s governance by devolving power across three tiers: strategic authorities, local councils, and communities themselves. It includes proposals for structural reform, such as exploring unitary models, and consolidating powers for mayoral authorities, with the goal of simplifying decision-making and improving accountability.

But its most transformative ambition lies in the third tier, communities. The Bill introduces a proposed Community Right to Shape Public Services, giving people formal influence over housing, health, social care, and infrastructure. It also outlines Community Covenants, local agreements between councils and communities that set out shared priorities, expectations, and responsibilities, designed to build trust and accountability.

Polling shows that 84 percent of UK adults feel they have little or no say over decisions affecting their local area. This Bill is an attempt to reverse that, not just by devolving power, but by embedding community agency into the fabric of governance.

This is the power of the Co-operative movement. It does not mimic populism or chase headlines. It builds relationships, strengthens communities, and makes democracy feel local, tangible, and shared, and that is why I stand with it, in policy, and in practice, in how we plan, invest, and shape our towns.

Let us make community ownership the norm. Let us build from the ground up.

Read more here: https://observer.co.uk/news/politics/article/why-the-co-operative-party-is-labours-best-shot-at-stopping-reforms-rise

Join the Co-operative Party here: https://party.coop/join/