At last weekend’s National Co-operative Party conference, Luke Pollard MP, the Shadow Environment Secretary, launched the Co-op Party’s new taskforce that will look at rural and coast communities.

Luke is a Labour and Co-operative Party MP which means he stands for two political parties. The Labour Party and the Co-operative Party have been sister-parties for 100 years and stand candidates on joint tickets. Plymouth has a long and proud co-operative tradition and our Labour MPs are often Labour and Co-operative Party MPs too.

 Luke said:

 “I am proud to be a Labour and Co-operative MP and I want us to better tell the co-op story for rural and coastal communities.

 

 As a westcountry MP I know just what a difference mutuals make to our region every single day, often without fanfare.

 

 As part of the Rural Review of Labour’s policies Keir has asked me to lead, I want to hear from those working in these sectors to help inform Labour’s next manifesto.”

 What is the Co-op Party?

The Co-op Party helps champion co-ops, fairer ways of doing business and approaches that support mutuals. There are a considerable number of co-ops and mutuals in rural and coastal areas and Luke’s work leading Labour’s Rural Review will now be informed by the Co-op taskforce.

 What will the new Co-op task force do?

The task force will seek to report on community ownership in rural and coastal communities across the UK, and understand the impact that co-operative ideas and organisations are having in these areas

In highlighting these examples, the task force will share the story of the co-operative and mutual sector in rural and coastal communities, and demonstrate the benefits that these forms of ownership can bring as well as the importance of championing these sectors. As Labour looks to build a new relationship with these areas and ensure the next Labour manifesto provides hope and opportunity to them.

The task force will give co-operative representatives, businesses and members in these communities, the chance to have their say on how this can be done, and the role that cooperation has to play in it

 The task force will also work with the Co-operative Youth network to further this work and ensure that the views of young Co-operative Party members are reflected.

You can find out more about the Co-operative Party, read our policies and become a member of the party here.