THE Members’ Magazine Autumn/Winter 2020 PIONEER

The local councillors Anneliese Dodds MP: Vaughan Gething on life fighting for food How Co-operators are as a Co-operative Health justice Owning the Future Minister during Covid-19 06 10 24 Letter from the General Secretary Welcome to your latest edition of The Pioneer Contents elcome to your latest edition pieces the Party has published 04 of ‘The Pioneer’ - much has over the summer, which I would Owning the Future Wchanged since the last edition. recommend to members. 06 I very much hope that our magazine Since the last edition I hope Case Study: finds yourself and family well. you have seen an active Party Feeding Communities It has been said many times willing to adapt and learn, be before, especially following the a positive force both in the 08 global financial crash of 2008, that co-operative movement and Backing Our Credit Unions the need for co-operation has never labour movement. We have had been greater. However, this need much to focus on and campaign 10 has rarely been more pressing in for and I don’t see that changing The Long Read: Rebuilding ‘Over the past few months, local living memory. any time soon. Thank you for Together It is this necessity for greater your support. co-operation that this edition of 14 mutual aid groups and community In Numbers: the Pioneer focuses on. Co-operative ‘Owning the Future’ is also Campaigning in 2020 and co-operative businesses have a title of a collection of policy Joe Fortune, General Secretary 16 As this edition was going to print, we heard the sad news that our Chair, The Conversation: Vaughan Gething led the way.’ Chris Herries had died. Chris was a powerful advocate for our movement and Margaret throughout her life and we will all miss her advice and support. On page Casely-Hayford 27 we pay tribute to Chris and to our former General Secretary Ted See ‘Rebuilding Together’, 20 page 10 Graham who died earlier in the year. Chris and Ted did so much for the Spotlight: Co-operative Party and the great work you’ll read about in this magazine is Parliament, Networks, Unions testament to the legacy they left the Party. 24 Local Elections THE PIONEER 2021 Tel: 02073674150 Our membership rates increase by inflation each Email: [email protected] year. This helps us to build and develop our 25 Editorial enquiries: Georgia O’Brien work, while also ensuring that increases are kept Organising for the and Shane Brogan. small. The NEC has put forward a 5p per month Future increase to membership rates for 2021 – this will Co-operative Party Limited is a registered be voted on later this autumn and if agreed the Society under the Co-operative and new rates will start in January. If you would like 26 Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. to change or discuss your membership, please Equalities Update Registered no. 30027R contact [email protected] Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of 2021 Membership Rates: Higher/Solidarity Rate: 27 the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, £5.20 per month or £62.50 per year; Standard Tributes: Ted 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ. Rate: £3.20 per month or £38.50 per year; Graham and Chris Printed by Solopress, 9 Stock Road, Reduced Income Rate: £2.20 per month or Herries Southend-on-Sea Essex, SS2 5QF. £26.50 per year.

02 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Letter from the General Secretary 03 Feature

Anna Birley Policy Officer, Co-operative Party consumers, and communities have a stake in the businesses that s lockdown eased this summer, the hoped-for decade of austerity, our economy shape their lives and the wider economic uptick did not happen. In August, was ill equipped to cope. incomplete recovery from 2008’s crash. economy. Critically, economies A Britain officially entered its deepest recession Even before coronavirus This growing inequality left our economy fragile and with a greater percentage of co- since records began. While the pandemic has hit, wages had decoupled from vulnerable to shock. While the economic effects of a operatively owned businesses are had global economic impacts, the UK has fared growth, leaving the majority of us pandemic and a global shutdown are unavoidable, its more equal, more productive and particularly badly. The worst excess death rate in behind while executive pay and severity and longevity should not have been a foregone more resilient. Europe coupled with the worst recession in Europe shareholder dividends remained conclusion. History shows that growing inequality Ownership means taking control and largest drop in GDP of all G7 countries is a high and ever rising. The poorest often precedes financial crashes, and that economies of your future and having a voice triple tragedy. households couldn’t afford the characterised by inequality crash harder, grow slower in the decisions that affect your It didn’t have to be this way. While a downturn may basics, and the “squeezed middle” and risk their regrowth being short lived. community. Through this crisis, have been inevitable, the scale of the pending jobs were already experiencing a fall This inequality is a symptom of narrow ownership communities have responded with crisis was not. We entered this crisis unprepared. in living standards. Communities of our economy – wealth and power rests in the kindness and co-operation, and As well as the late initial lockdown, shocking PPE across the country were still hands of a small number of investors, shareholders have rediscovered what we can shortages, and a health service overstretched after a feeling the pinch from the long and and executives. They too often make decisions in achieve by working together. We their own short-term interests and not for the wider need to rewrite the rules governing benefit of workers, consumers, communities and the our economy so that these values environment. The result is an unequal distribution of are reflected too.  wealth, low productivity and weak growth. We need to widen ownership so that more workers,

04 The Pioneer Summer 2020 Feature 05 Case study Cllr Joanna West Cllr Eva Murray Derby City Council Glasgow City Council

hen the pandemic hit I was asked by Central ince lockdown began I have England Co-operative to swap my Membership spent every weekday at a W and Community Council role for working in a S Covid-19 Support Hub that I store. Of course I said yes and spent a few weeks helped set up in my ward with a FEEDING COMMUNITIES working in store helping colleagues who were number of community leaders. finding a new way of working; keeping themselves The G13/G14 Hub, based and customers safe. During that time Derby City in Yoker has helped, along with FOOD JUSTICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT Council and Central England Co-operative had community partners, over 500 joined forces and created a community hub project families and individuals, many on where people who could afford to buy food but were a weekly basis with a variety of he Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the growing inequalities across the UK. unable to leave their home could order. I shopped issues including essential groceries, Food is a basic human right, but it has also been a representation of those growing for them, working with volunteers to get their food money advice, mental health T inequalities. Our Co-operative Councillors have not only been supporting our ongoing and essentials to them the next day. It provided a support and prescription pick-ups. campaign for food justice, but providing direct practical support to communities. Our much needed lifeline to many vulnerable people, This crisis has show the very ability to organise and provide support to one another, was one of the founding principles particularly as weeks went on with no other contact best of communities and what they of the co-operative movement centuries ago, we didn’t expect to do that at such scale in from the outside world. can do, not only in a crisis, but 2020. when they are given the support they deserve. Cllr Kemi Akinola Communities have stepped up Wandsworth Borough Council Cllr Asher Craig during this crisis, we have a duty Deputy Mayor, Bristol to remember that in our decision making. uring lockdown Brixton People’s Kitchen and he pandemic has not affected all communities Be Enriched Charity partnership have been equally. It has exacerbated already existing D delivering food parcels and a hot meal to 400 T inequalities. Nevertheless, Bristol has been people a week across Lambeth and Wandsworth. better prepared than many places to deal with But in the background something else has been the crisis as we have an established an effective in development. For the past 2 years we’ve been support network underpinned by the remarkable working on a model that will move people away work of Feeding Bristol, which has provided an from food charity and towards access to fresh and extraordinary platform to deliver food to our most delicious food at a fraction of supermarket prices. vulnerable residents. Backed by South West We’ve been converting a double decker bus that FareShare who mobilized and delivered hundreds of will bring this food into areas of low income or low tonnes of food to over 100 organisations in the city. access to shops with a café and wifi to support We’ve seen at least 221,000 meals and 16,200 food people living in digital poverty. We hope that this will parcels distributed to those in need during lockdown enable people to eat better, live better and connect with nearly half of the food going to children. more with each other. The project is going live this autumn.

06 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Case Study 07 Feature BACKING OUR CREDIT UNIONS

Jackie Baillie MSP Deputy Leader, Scottish Labour Party

oo many Scots in disadvantaged communities exclusion. But if they are to make lack the access to the financial services that the a full contribution, the movement T rest of us enjoy. As a result they are worse off, needs to grow. Rooted in the paying more for household bills, unable to get home communities they serve, credit insurance and without the tools to save effectively. unions exist to serve their members The number of people who are financially excluded not investors and shareholders. may grow as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and the Scottish credit unions stepped looming recession. With people losing their jobs as the up through this crisis. For example, furlough scheme starts to unwind, the consequences of the Glasgow Credit Union donated proactively phoned customers who As Social Justice Minister, I delivered the very being out of work will have a profound impact. over £15,000 to local causes. usually rely on in-person services. first credit union development plan backed by new As we stayed at home to stay safe, those who bank Dalmuir Credit Union pledged to As the Co-operative Party’s resources to expand the movement, and just weeks online could manage their finances and buy essentials support savers worried about their report, Owning the Future, sets out, into the new decade I secured an amendment to the online, while those who couldn’t struggled. With some finances. HI-Scot Credit Union we must remove barriers to growth Scottish National Bank Bill to ensure the bank can shops worrying about handling cash during a pandemic, developed new loan products that and ensure that credit unions invest in co-operatives. I was proud to be nominated only those with contactless payment could buy what could be accessed over the phone throughout Scotland have access by Co-operative Party members for deputy leader of they needed. To tackle inequality, there must be equal for people shielding. Fast Track to the support they require. While Scottish Labour – and will ensure I continue to be a access to the tools that enable you to engage in the loans at the Grampian Credit Union the Scottish Government’s Credit strong voice for co-operative finance and the credit economy. offered affordable credit to people Union Resilience Fund is welcome, union movement in the months and years ahead.. I have long been passionate about the role that struggling to make ends meet. The we can do more to enable a fairer  credit unions can play in the fight against financial 1st Alliance (Ayrshire) Credit Union financial sector.

08 The08 The Pioneer Autumn/WinterSummer 2020 2020 Feature 09 The Long Read REBUILDING TOGETHER

Anneliese Dodds MP Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer

his year has been a year restrictions over the summer does not bring with it an beset by uncertainty. easing of uncertainty. We now face lasting economic T Coronavirus has taken the consequences, with the UK facing the worst recession world by surprise and seen in Europe as well as the highest number of excess new restrictions placed on deaths. The Government’s one-size-fits-all withdrawal how we live our lives to keep of income support is an error – continuing down this ‘We must learn the lessons of past ourselves and our communities path means a worsening jobs crisis that British workers safe. We have had to adapt to simply can’t afford. Already by July, employees on the recessions – that widening inequality new ways of working, shopping UK payroll were down by 730,000 since March. In the and communicating. We’ve three months to June, the number of job vacancies fell leads to economic crisis, prolongs its worried about our health and the to a record low. wellbeing of friends and family – We must learn the lessons of past recessions – that effects and weakens recovery.’ and too many of us have grieved widening inequality leads to economic crisis, prolongs the loss of a loved one. its effects and weakens recovery. Already, as we But the easing of some entered lockdown, the UK was one of the most unequal

10 The Pioneer Autumn/WinterSummer 2020 2020 The Long Read 11 countries in Europe. We also had other longstanding sector are more productive and Party has called for an innovative job retention scheme of co-operation to protect jobs and economic challenges: flatlining productivity, and more responsive to the needs of – giving workers who are at risk of redundancy when a rebuild a fairer economy together. stagnant wages since the time of the global financial their communities. From Italy’s business closes or downsizes the right and the support crisis. Emilia Romagna to the Basque to buyout the business, establishing it as an employee- Not surprisingly, coronavirus has further exposed Country’s Mondragon, co-operative owned co-operative instead. We should be looking at and exacerbated existing problems: the precariousness economies have lower socio- ways to keep people in jobs and ensure businesses of work, the strain on household incomes, and the economic inequality. Co-operation stay open and productive, but also to ensure that extent of underfunding of our public services. The hardwires resilience into the the economy can, over time, shift to a fairer, more number of people on zero-hours contracts has risen economy too. In the UK, twice as democratic structure where employees have a say and over the last year by 156,000 – many of whom are the many co-operatives survive the a stake in their workplaces. frontline workers in health, social care and retail that difficult first five years as other A hopeful reading of history shows that we have done so much for us all during this crisis. businesses. respond to crisis by looking out for one another. Out Caring for communities, tackling the climate crisis, This is critical – of the horror of the Second World War Labour built a protecting workers and consumers, and confronting has a scarring effect on individuals welfare state to look after all our people from cradle inequality cannot be left to the market alone to fix. and their communities for decades, to grave. Over the past few months, neighbours have Instead, we must take measures which narrow so we must put in place policies that helped neighbours, and local mutual aid groups and inequality by widening people’s stake in the economy. prevent unemployment and retain community and co-operative businesses have led the Evidence from other countries shows that this works. jobs. Now is the time to think boldly way from food justice to financial inclusion. Our task Economies characterised by a bigger co-operative and creatively. The Co-operative now as co-operators is to build on this renewed sense

12 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 The Long Read 13 In Numbers

ovid-19 has shaped this year and the Co- 300,000 operative Party and the UK’s co-op societies Meals for people in CO-OPERATIVE Chave used their campaigning to stand up for need the most vulnerable in our society and support our communities. Here’s a look back at what As lockdown hit donations to CAMPAIGNING we’ve achieved together and the challenges foodbanks, co-ops took up the we’re facing. challenge, including Central £2.1 England working with Fare Share to deliver thousands of meals in THROUGH the Midlands alone. MILLION Available to support LOCKDOWN 55,000 community projects Supporters engaged East of England Co-op launched its Community Cares with our campaigns 5,000 Fund to help members use their dividend to support From protecting Fair Trade and New jobs created local groups, with other co-ops launching similar DFID, to demanding Food Justice by co-ops schemes. and backing Fair Tax principles as part of any bailouts, our campaigns As many people lost their jobs in have led the way. retail and hospitality, co-ops like 50% Scotmid created thousands of new off childcare costs jobs to help people stay in work for key workers and help feed the nation. 4,000 Midcounties Co-op Childcare offered discounted Council seats to be childcare to key workers through a special fund to say elected next May thank you to those who kept us safe. It is going to be an important set of elections as we aim 100 to grow our team at the local, mayoral and police and Councils have 140% crime commissioner elections, as well as in the Scottish adopted our Increase in and Welsh Parliaments. charter attacks on retail 1.3 MILLION Co-operative councillors have workers Children on free school meals led the fight against modern day As the number of attacks rises, Co-operators in the The Co-op Group was the first to say that no child slavery, now 100 councils and we’ve worked with co-ops like Shadow Cabinet should go hungry because schools were closed, procurement worth billions of Midcounties, East of England, 9 helping get the government to take action. pounds are part of our charter to Scotmid, Central England and Co- Our MP have important roles in the new team including stamp it out. op Group to call for action. Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Chancellor – more than half of all shadow ministers are Co-op Party members.

14 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 In Numbers 15 the conversation The Owning the Future report focuses on how How do we ensure that the Britain’s widening inequality damages our spotlight on racial inequality VAUGHAN recovery. How has tackling inequality shaped and racism during coronavirus your work? embeds a long-term focus We must make choices now about what sort of on improving BAME health recovery we have, tackling inequality head on and outcomes? GETHING MS deliberately levelling up. If you compare two maps While medical directors and showing socio-economic inequality and health, you’ll deputies are becoming more Vaughan Gething is the Labour and see that the two are related. So as Health Minister, I representative there are still Co-operative MS for Cardiff South and published our ten-year vision, “Healthier Wales” with snowy white peaks. There’s Penarth, and the Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government. tackling inequality as a central plank. more to do – not only on overt racism but on the unconscious The Welsh Labour Government proactively bias that pervades the system. offered funding to Wales’ third and co-operative I recently spoke with a group of sectors. Why is it so important to invest in the women about how stereotypes co-operative economy? affect their maternity care. It’s We need to remake the future – to do this, we must so important to listen to people’s invest in the parts of the economy we believe in. If experiences. we don’t, we shouldn’t be surprised if we end up with BAME communities are an economy that doesn’t reflect our values. disproportionately represented in areas of higher deprivation, it’s You’ve also announced a significant increase intersectional. We’re still not on in funding for Welsh social care – how can we the right side of the Black Lives make sure carers and service users have a Matter movement, because, stake in services? in all four nations, we haven’t Social care offers more voice, choice and control eliminated racial disparity. for people than the health sector. We need to apply this learning now to health services. That isn’t to say we can’t do more in social care. Local authorities commissioning care know that they can do better.

What does it mean to be a Co-operative BAME people are dying at much higher rates Member of the Senedd? from Covid-19. How do we protect BAME There’s a risk of looking backwards to co-operative frontline and health workers? traditions – but for me being a Co-operative MS We have an important story to tell. As part of our ‘I’ve always is about my belief in co-operative values and their work looking at why BAME communities are at endeavoured to potential to shape our country. Promoting a wider higher risk, the section on essential workers is led by ensure power and mutual sector is a practical demonstration of our a BAME commissioner, Professor Keshav Singhal, values. We can remake the case for co-operation and includes thousands of comprehensive risk wealth are shared by pointing to co-operative examples in Wales, like assessments. more fairly in the Principality. hands of those making decisions in our communities’

16 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 The Conversation 17 the conversation list! And it’s far from over. 2020 has been shaped by We could see that the local community causes the community response MARGARET we support across the UK were going to be to Covid-19 and a renewed struggling to raise funds during lockdown, so we focus on the desperate made an early distribution of £4.5 million to 4,000 need for equality across our local causes from our Local Community Fund. communities - do you think CASELY-HAYFORD In the early weeks of the crisis, we gave £1.5 this will shape the Group’s worth of food directly to the FareShare charity to plans for the future? Margaret Casely-Hayford has served as a distribute to local food banks. We also invited our Yes, absolutely! But for us it’s Member-Nominated Director of the Co-op members and customers to donate too, by dropping a question of making sure our Group since 2016. our planned Easter TV campaign and switching it to existing agenda and priorities promote FareShare. around tackling inequalities are Our network of nearly 1,000 local Member still fit for purpose in our new Pioneers have been working on the ground to bring Covid-19 world. After all, this communities together and help co-ordinate local is a path we’ve been taking for support for the most vulnerable and isolated. And a great many years. Much of we brought forward the national launch of our online what we were already doing Co-operate platform, which links local need to local still makes good sense. For support. example, our commitments on We wanted to help our 26 Co-op Academy addressing mental wellbeing Schools too, which are in some of the most look even more relevant this disadvantaged parts of the north of England. We year than they did last year provided them with £2.6m of Co-op vouchers to when we adopted our new give to pupils who would normally receive free campaign. Working to help school meals. But we topped this up, so it was more young people through our generous than the government run scheme. Academy schools and through We haven’t forgotten our trade partners around our apprenticeship programme the world either. They’re even more vulnerable remains an important route to to economic shocks. So, we’ve directed a total of improving opportunities for the more constructively interested £950,000 towards our Fairtrade partners and the least advantaged. We certainly in alternative commercial water projects we’ve been supporting to help with want to do more to support those How did you first get structures much later in my life; better Covid19 hygiene. who will be hardest hit by this involved in the co-operative and was overjoyed when, as Thankfully, we weren’t starting from scratch with recession and we’re looking at movement? a lawyer, I was asked whether any of these initiatives. It was because we had how best to achieve that over At the age of about 11 or 12, I I would like to become the established relationships and good local knowledge the coming months. was introduced to the Woodcraft Director of Legal Services for the that we were able to act quickly, when it was Folk by a school friend whose John Lewis Partnership. most needed. And that comes back to our being a parents were two doctors with different kind of business. rather wonderful values, and I What kind of things has the became intrigued by the Co-op Group done to support ‘It was because we had established co-operative ethic. It sat well with communities through the relationships and good local my precocious political sense crisis? knowledge that we were able to act of what was right! But I became I’m proud to say it’s quite a long quickly, when it was most needed’

18 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 The Conversation 19 Spotlight Spotlight

NETWORKS: A NEW GENERATION WESTMINSTER: OF CO-OPERATIVE ACTIVISTS

Tina Bhartwas Co-operative Party CO-OPERATION COUNTS National Youth Committee

hen I joined the history. Jim McMahon MP Co-operative Party I was I was also proud to contribute to the Party’s blog Chair, Co-operative W already a Co-op Group announcing our policy platform on , one Parliamentary Party member and campaigning of the greatest issues facing my generation. for Labour and Co-operative As the Eastern Region Representative on the ver recent months we’ve seen Dodds MP and myself as Shadow Secretary candidates. National Youth Committee I have worked on a number huge changes across society, for Transport – and Shadow Frontbench Co-op I became active in my local of campaigns and events. I am proud to have worked O but one constant throughout Parliamentarians covering a range policy briefs, co- branch, attending meetings, on the Connecting Communities policy submission, an has been the prevalence of operation is being represented where it counts. making membership recruitment issue that greatly affects my region. Co-op Party Parliamentarians And as we link up with Co-op Party grass roots suggestions and encouraging fellow Throughout lockdown we have seen lots of continuing to represent the co- activists and councillors on the front line of this crisis Labour colleagues to join too. Now I examples of co-operation from retail heroes feeding operative movement, and offering right across the country, we know just what issues are am Vice-Chair. the nation to mutual aid groups. Co-operation is more co-operative solutions to the many affecting the co-operative sector. From standing for selection as a important now than ever. challenges we now face. So that means whether it’s ensuring retail workers Labour and Co-operative candidate What’s more, with the change of are given adequate protection against violence, in the 2020 local elections to leadership in the Labour Party, the challenging the Government’s decision to cut DFID, campaigning, I received huge Co-operative Party Youth is the voice of all young presence of Co-op Parliamentarians standing up for our Fairtrade principles, making sure support from the Party and friends members aged 30 or under. If you would like more in key positions leaves us in an co-ops are considered in Government’s response in the movement. Last year’s support in getting involved in your local branch or excellent position to continue doing to the current crisis or so many other areas, Co-op Co-operative Party Summer School want to organise an event for young members in just that. Parliamentarians are playing a vital role in standing up particularly stands out. I received your area please get in touch: [email protected] - With nine members of the for the issues that matter to our movement. excellent candidate training as you can also find out about the Committee at Shadow Cabinet – including well as debating policy issues and party.coop/youth Shadow Chancellor Anneliese learning about our movement’s

20 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Spotlight 21 Spotlight Spotlight

WE NEED TO ENSURE UNIONS: STANDING UP FAIR TAX PRINCIPLES ARE AT THE HEART OF THE RECOVERY FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED

as shielding and childcare. Many ‘We’re contin- Claire Hanna MP Kate Dearden of our members have told us that Social Democratic and Community the Union uing to call on Labour Party MP for they did not qualify for help from the Belfast South government’s support scheme and the government are suffering real financial hardship to urgently he pandemic has caused the Northern Ireland is stunted by the failure of ommunity is a proud champion as a result. They feel like the rules of capitalism and political Stormont’s leading parties to have sufficient vision of the five million strong forgotten self-employed. support T economy to be re-written before to review and extend their devolved powers, lagging C self-employed and freelance We’re continuing to call on the self-employed our eyes. Opportunities for a fairer far behind Scotland in ambition and delivery. Limited community across the UK. For government to urgently support tax system should be grasped fiscal levers thwart the ambition of those MLAs who many people, self-employment is self-employed workers, and create workers’ too, to ensure policies are fair want to move from sectarian, identity politics to real the answer to finding a good work- long-term solutions to address the and redistributive, and to help to transformation. life balance. It can be extremely inequalities faced by self-employed address the financial precarity of so The goal of Corporation Tax devolution, discussed rewarding, but it can also mean and freelance workers that this many which was exposed by recent endlessly for the last decades, would require longer hours, less pay and more crisis has exposed. months. commensurate investment in skills and infrastructure to worry about your finances. We’re a While long term thinking is attract decent jobs, and the newest lever, Air Passenger trade union that’s here to help and required in relation to managing Duty, must be thought through to achieve dual goals of support self-employed workers. the inevitable Covid-driven deficit, connectivity and sustainable future. During the pandemic, the self- the UK can and should use the The co-operative movement has been a pioneer employed community have been Join the collective tax system to correct imbalance of the Fair Tax Mark – setting an example of how hit particularly hard. Research voice for the self- employed today: in public contribution of major businesses paying their share to support society. shows almost half of self-employed community-tu.org/ corporations, perhaps including a That’s why as we emerge from the lockdown, we need people have lost work due to lack of join. one-off windfall tax on some of the to ensure Fair Tax Principles are at the heart of the demand and lockdown restrictions, digital giants who have benefitted recovery and help build a fairer and more balanced or health or caring reasons such disproportionately from lockdown. economy.

22 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Spotlight 23 Programme is now open to all Spotlight members who are interested in Update standing, are going through the process or are already selected. Open to all levels of local ELECTIONS government, from parish to unitary, if you are accepted on the programme, there will be support to help you get selected and campaign to be elected as a Labour and Co-operative Councillor. Now is a great time to join our growing network of Co-operative Councillors, so fill in 2021 your application online today: party. coop/candidate-development Emma Hoddinott Local Government Officer, POLICE AND CRIME Co-operative Party ORGANISING FOR COMMISSIONERS

Already 23 out of the 40 Police Shane Brogan 021 will provide a unique opportunity to grow our and Crime Commissioner in Membership Manager, team of Co-operative Party representatives across candidates England and Wales Co-operative Party 2the country. have been supported by the Co- THE FUTURE operative Party to take forward our ovid-19 has shown the spirit of co-operation that sits will also help grow our team of SCOTTISH AND WELSH PARLIAMENTS values into policing. at the heart of all our communities. We’re proud that co-operative representatives at all The issue of shopworker C it was often Party members and representatives who levels. The elections to the Parliaments in Scotland and violence has once again come to helped lead the local response to the crisis. With members in every single Wales will allow us to make the case for stronger the fore with many retail workers Our branches have also risen to the challenge, with council area and CLP, we know that co-op economies in the nations and support the facing increasing violence as more than 100 online member meet-ups since March, strong and active local parties play election of a strong team at both Holyrood and the new rules on social distancing helping bring members together to check in with each an important part in making the case Senedd. The Scottish Co-operative Party and the Wales and masks are introduced. The other, discuss policy and plan campaigns. for a more co-operative society. Co-operative Party have big plans for the elections and government has yet to act on calls The next two years are going to be critical and That’s why member activity and our policy agenda, and members will hear more in the for tougher action and the Co-op that’s why we are putting in place a new team of strong local campaigning needs to coming months. Party continues to campaign for regional organisers to develop and support our work in be at the heart of our work – and violence to be #NotPartOfTheJob. communities across the UK. we’re excited by what we can LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ENGLAND They’ll play a key role in helping us grow locally achieve when the new team is in If you have questions about any of and become more representative of the communities place later this year. In England, there will be local elections for over these elections, then get in touch: we work in. They’ll help deliver support and training to 4,000 council seats, alongside directly elected mayors members and activists to lead our campaigns in their If you are interested in helping us Scotland: [email protected] in places like Manchester and the West Midlands as area and strengthen our links with their local co-operative build local activity and campaigning Wales: [email protected] in your area, then get in touch: well as the London Assembly and Mayor. Local Government: [email protected] and labour movements. [email protected] Our Co-operative Candidate Development With big elections in 2021 and 2022 the organisers

24 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Update 25 Update Tributes TED CHRIS GRAHAM HERRIES 1925-2020 1947-2020

ed was a lifelong co-operator who was hris dedicated her life to the causes she just 14 when he began his work with was passionate about and was a mentor T the co-operative movement, delivering C and source of advice for many people bread on his bike for a Tyneside co-op. across the movement. He was always passionate about the need She was a committed teacher, but left the for co-operators to have a strong voice in profession after leading a campaign to end EQUALITIES politics at all levels and was elected to Enfield the use of corporal punishment at the special Council in 1961, becoming the fourth national school where she taught. Our member-led networks are: secretary of the Co-operative Party in 1967. Chris had a strong record as a members’ Karen Wilkie Deputy General Secretary, • BAME Co-operators He was a hard-working parliamentarian representative and was a Board Member Co-operative Party • Co-operative Party (dis)Ability Network for more than 40 years: elected in 1974 as through the mergers that created the Co- • Co-operative Party Women’s Network the Co-operative MP for Edmonton and later operative Group, and was the first woman to • Co-operative Party Youth Network made a Co-operative Peer in 1983. Chair Co-operatives UK. he Co-operative Party is • LGBTQ+ Co-operators. Ted sought to highlight the excessive She was passionate about the difference committed to building a party Elections are taking place in Autumn 2020 for new burdens placed on co-operatives compared co-operative politics could make, and was a T that is open and accessible steering committees of 12 members to lead the work of the to other businesses, and the need for the strong advocate for local government, serving and reflects the full diversity of our Women, BAME, LGBTQ+ and (dis)Ability networks. The movement to reform. as a Co-operative Councillor in Norwich until communities. Youth elections have already taken place. He was a vocal advocate for 2018. A key and growing part of To receive Network updates and event invites, and to environmental protection, holding several Chris was Vice-Chair of the Co-operative this agenda is our five member- seek nomination to or vote in the elections you need to roles for Labour while in government and Party NEC on several occasions and became led equalities networks. These opt-in using our Equalities Questionnaire to update your opposition, and was also Chief Whip from Chair in December 2019 – throughout her Networks help ensure that our membership. 1990 to 1997. time on the NEC she was always on hand to membership is more representative The new Steering Committees will work the NEC, party Ted’s commitment, and knowledge provide support. and that the diversity of our staff and our local branches to made him an important adviser and source In the last few months, Chris played an membership is reflected in our help us strengthen our work of support for many in the movement. important part in developing new projects to campaigns, policies, organisation to build an active, open and When the Co-operative Party marked its improve representation in the Party and bring and elected representatives. diverse Co-operative Party. centenary in 2017, Ted was painted on a new in a new generation of co-operators. It is To opt-in to any of the commemorative banner to mark the important fitting that the fruits of this work will be part of Networks, please visit role he played in the Party’s history. the legacy of her decades of service. party.coop/equalities.

26 The Pioneer Autumn/Winter 2020 Tributes 27 WE BELIEVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE WEALTH AND POWER ARE SHARED.

Covid-19 poses new challenges, but the crisis We’re powered and funded by our has shown how desperately we need a fairer, members. Your regular contributions help greener and more co-operative economy. us make a real difference and be a louder voice for our movement. Over the past few months your support has helped us to launch Owning the Future We know times are tough, but can you chip – setting out our vision for a co-operative in an extra donation to help us build a fairer economy; enabled us to campaign on future? important issues like food justice and modern day slavery; and allowed us to put in place new organisers ahead of next May’s elections.

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