Why Co-operative solutions should be at the heart of Labour’s revival in the South

The words “Co-operative” and “mutual” are enjoying a renaissance in the political lexicon with Tories and Liberals falling over themselves to claim to be friends of the mutual sector. Readers with a passing interest in the mutual sector might think this a positive change; however, recent policy interventions such as those on Northern Rock and British Waterways demonstrate all too well that the coalition neither loves nor understands co-ops. For purposes of political posturing, the Tories had a fleeting romance with the mutual sector, pretending they knew what mutuals were and how they operated. Understandably, the sector is dismayed to have been used as a political football, and the sense of resentment runs deep.

Co-ops and mutuals are regarded as the future of public service delivery, embedding responsibility, community engagement and fiscal accountability into local services. However, as the first year of the coalition has shown, on the rare occasions they actually pursue a mutual option they make a mess of it and produce some cock-eyed compromise that is not in anyone’s interests, as has happened with British Waterways. Our sister party, the Co-operative Party, has led the way in exposing this, assisted by Labour and Co-operative candidates in many areas including the South. The clear danger from the Tories’ actions is that they give co-ops a bad name and undermine the valuable work they do.

Although it has its historical roots in the North, the Co-op movement plays a vital role in the South of England. The Co-op business group has nearly 5,000 stores across the UK with many in towns and cities across the South. In post-war Britain, the local Co-op and the “divi” were part of the cultural fabric of towns across the South. The values and principles of the co-operative and mutual movement remain strong in the south with the continuing expansion of Co-op businesses but also co-op and mutual schemes in local services.

Southern voters have always had a keen interest and respect for co-operatives. Sadly, the ideological connection between the sector and the Labour and Co-operative parties is little understood. Co-operative policies have a proven track record of delivering on the ground for Southern voters. This can be seen in the Millmead Community Mutual Sure Start Scheme in North Kent. Incorporated as a community mutual in 2005, the centre gives parents and children real power over how local services are delivered. Using the mutual model, North Kent parents were able to identify gaps in service provision through local knowledge. As well as delivering real positive outcomes for children, the scheme has also helped bind the community together, a community that had become cynical about traditional forms of services.

The Thames Valley Farming Co-operative is another example. Local people became concerned about the growing issue of food miles and sustainable agriculture and so formed a co-operative operating across 14 towns. Through this scheme profits are re-invested and local economies supported. There is real appetite across the south for the mutual and co-operative sector to play a much bigger role in local life. There is also an increasing practical application for the model, which is being used to save local community services that would otherwise close. Pubs, Post-offices, convenience stores and even telephone boxes are all at the forefront of this revolution. Voters across the South are deeply concerned about the loss of vital community services, and it is the communities themselves that are providing the answers. The Labour and Co-operative Parties have made this revolution possible through campaigning on issues like community pub funds. When in government, we set aside £4.3 million towards helping start-up schemes to save community pubs - funds axed by the coalition.

Our biggest problem is that, as a party, voters in the south do not associate the mutual and co-operative model with us. In many ways, this is an extraordinary fact. We have an idea (co-operatives) that is valued, appreciated, practical and part of the cultural fabric of many southern towns. Yet we need to campaign in a co-ordinated way to link a long-established tradition in the south with electing Labour and Co-operative representatives. We have a huge opportunity here. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We simply need to remind southern voters of our historical background in the sector and the brilliant work done and work on-going by the Labour and Co-operative parties to promote its interests, whilst highlighting the impact of Tory policy on the sector.

Co-operative policies have never been more needed, or more necessary, for southern voters. Any viable plan for Labour revival in the South has to include promoting Co-operative solutions. To attempt to do so without them is missing a huge opportunity to change the politics of the south for years to come.

Daniel-Carey Dawes is a CLP Secretary but writes here in a personal capacity