Great to be in Liverpool over the last few days for this year’s Labour Party Conference, meeting with Labour & Co-op party members, activists, unions, and businesses to discuss the change we are trying to make and the national renewal we have begun to deliver. Thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to organise & hold such successful events throughout.
It was a really positive conference for the Co-op Party and our Community Britain campaign. As Chair of the Co-operative Party, much of the time in Liverpool was spent continuing to spread the message on the successes of the Co-op Party’s Community Britain campaign.
With the recently announced Pride in Place Pride in Place Programme to give communities in our borough control over their own high streets; the enhanced Community Right-to-Buy being legislated for to give local people the right to own purchase cherished local assets that are at risk of being lost; community-led housing being part of the solution to the housing crisis; and community-owned energy now running through the just-announced Strategic Priorities for Great British Energy to roll out clean, green, community-owned energy owned by millions: the future of this country is community.
Chairing a panel with co-operatives & building societies association with Lucy Rigby on financial mutuals, we spoke about plans to build on current success which shows co-ops & mutuals have had a record-breaking year, proving they’re not just resilient but thriving.
On the Youth-led panel with UK Youth, SOUK and Full Fact, young people asked questions about the future of democracy, countering misinformation online, devolved powers, empowering young people in our communities, and breaking down barriers to apprenticeships & opportunities for working class kids.
It is clear what country we are building and the next steps we are about to take on that journey. From a new ambition to put university places on a level playing field with gold standard apprenticeships; to the announcement of NHS Online to deliver 8.5 million extra appointments & end the 8am race to call the doctors; a school library in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament; a new European Youth Experience Scheme; and ensuring there is guaranteed work for all young people. We’re choosing investment over decline to put us on a path of national renewal towards a fairer country.
Ownership matters when it comes to growing our economy and driving-up living standards in the long-term interest. People want pride, security & dignity in the places they call home. For too long the only story has been of loss and decline. That has to change.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 