Co-operatives UK welcomes King's Speech for Boosting Co-operative Growth and Community Empowerment
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From increased devolution to football regulation and from green energy investment to protecting shop workers, read Co-operatives UK's response to the King's speech.
Co-operatives UK welcomes the King's Speech and the many announcements poised to unlock growth in our sector. We are eager to collaborate with the government to ensure these measures deliver tangible, positive changes in communities across the nation.
Devolution
We are thrilled to see the new Community Right to Buy included in the English Devolution Bill. Its mention in the King's Speech underscores the government’s commitment to fostering co-operative growth. This measure, which enjoys widespread support within our sector and featured in our collective Call for Co-operative Growth.
The announcement of Local Growth Plans is equally encouraging. We will continue our collaboration with combined authorities and councils to ensure these plans create an environment where co-operative and democratic businesses can thrive.
Additionally, we are pleased with the government's commitment to working with combined authorities and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Policymakers at local and devolved levels have long been champions of co-operative and democratic business initiatives. The introduction of a new Council of the Regions and Nations promises to enhance the impact of these efforts through a more cohesive approach.
Energy
We welcome the government’s decision to establish Great British Energy within the first parliamentary session. We will work with members and partners in the community energy sector to explore how Great British Energy can channel investment into co-operative and community-owned energy projects.
Football at the Heart of Communities
Government has announced it will bring forward legislation promised by the last administration for an independent regulator for football. We hope this will lead to greater fan and community ownership of clubs, strengthening their role at the heart of our communities.
New Deal for Working People
Co-operatives across the country are already providing good, secure, and decent work. We welcome the government's pledge to tackle exploitative working practices. Worker co-operatives have transformed zero-hours contracts into empowering tools that offer members greater freedom, flexibility, and control. This should be enabled in any reform.
Protections for Shop Workers
After extensive campaigning from large consumer retail societies, trade unions, and the Co-operative Party, we are pleased to see the government moving forward with new legislation to strengthen community policing and protect shop workers from threats and violence.
An Increasingly Co-operative Future?
Elements of the King's Speech also allude to huge potential for co-operatives in a range of public services. Here's the take from our Policy and Development Lead, James Wright.
Government's announcement on water company reform is really encouraging. Embracing elements of the consumer mutual model demonstrate a commitment to public welfare and sustainable management. We are eager to see similar principles applied across other sectors, including transportation.
