Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections: Back our Call for a Co-operative Scotland
Scotland needs a stronger, fairer, more democratic economy. Co-operatives are already delivering it and with the right backing, can do even more. We called on all political parties to commit to growing co-operatives ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. This element of our campaign for a more co-operative Scotland has now closed, but you can still read all about it.
Why co-operatives should engage with the Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections
Co-operatives are democratic businesses that put people and planet before profit. From food and farming to energy and housing, we prove every day that a better way of doing business is possible.
In Scotland co-operatives already:
- Secure the essentials of life – like housing, energy and food
- Provide decent work, fair pay and community wealth
- Empower people to own and control their local services
- Deliver inclusive, resilient growth – adding more than £1.9 billion to the Scottish economy
Our call to government
With the right policies and support, co-operatives can play a major role in building a fairer Scotland. We’re calling on the next Scottish government to:
- Educate and raise awareness of co-operatives, including in schools and across the public sector
- Deliver on the Inclusive and Democratic Business Models Review
- Invest in co-operative infrastructure, so we can grow expert support and development networks
- Unlock co-operative finance, including through the Scottish National Investment Bank
Call for a Co-operative Scotland
We’re ready to deliver. Are you ready to support us?
Here you can see which co-operatives added thei name to the call for a co-operative Scotland. We also created a Member Toolkit for co-operatives engaging with candidates who ran in the Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections taking place on 6 May.
- Greencity Wholefoods
- Media Co-op
- SAOS
- Scotmid Co-operative
- West Granton Housing Co-operative
- Bridgend Farmhouse community centre, Edinburgh
- Co-operate Scotland LLP
- Cohousing Scotland
- Edinburgh Agroecology Coop
- Glasgow Community Energy
- Glasgow Credit Union
- Glasgow Student Housing Cooperative
- Graphics Co-op
- Jangling Space
- Research for Action
- SHRUB Co-operative
- Stir to Action
- The Carse Housing Co-op
- Intentional Peer Support
- Equality Housing
After you/your co-operative has signed up to the Call for a Co-operative Scotland, please contact your MSPs:
- Enter your postcode to find your Constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and your regional MSPs
- Write to your MSPs highlighting your support for our Call for a Co-operative Scotland
- Share any response with [email protected]
Below is a template email/letter:
Dear [insert name] MSP
I am writing to you as a [co-operative/community business/passionate supporter of co-ops],
Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, Co-operatives UK – the national association of co-operatives across the UK – has produced a Call for a Co-operative Scotland alongside members of the co-operative sector in Scotland, which we have signed up to.
We ask you, as MSPs:
- To commit to working with Scottish co-operatives should you be re-elected to the next Parliamentary term
- To ensure whoever is in Government delivers on the ambition and needs of Scottish co-operatives as outlined within the Call for a Co-operative Scotland: https://www.uk.coop/resources/read-our-call-co-operative-scotland
Yours sincerely
[Your Name and name of co-operative/organisation]
Read our Call for a Co-operative Scotland
Influencing policy
