Impact of the Co-Operative Impact of the Co-Operative Party on London Elections Party on London Elections

20122012

Val Shawcross AM Val Shawcross AM 

Contents Contents

The role the Co-operative Party The role the Co-operative Party played in the 2012 elections.played in the 2012 elections.

Key Co-operative policy points for Key Co-operative policy points for London.London.

The results of the elections.The results of the elections. Where next?Where next? Issues facing LondonersIssues facing Londoners

How you helpedHow you helped

Organisation  and mobilisationOrganisation  and mobilisation

Funding and SupportFunding and Support

Policy developmentPolicy development

An Economy in all our An Economy in all our InterestsInterests

Promote growth of co-operatives to Promote growth of co-operatives to create jobs by incentivising lending to create jobs by incentivising lending to start-up co-op enterprises, appointing start-up co-op enterprises, appointing a City Hall a City Hall ‘Co-operative ‘Co-operative CommissionCommission’’

Londoners should have access to aLondoners should have access to a credit union credit union

The Mayor should advocate a more The Mayor should advocate a more diverse banking system and stand up diverse banking system and stand up forfor customer owned banking customer owned banking as a as a crucial element in reform of the City. crucial element in reform of the City.

Building for the Future Building for the Future  All Londoners should have access to All Londoners should have access to

affordable homes over which they have affordable homes over which they have real control. The Mayor and Assembly real control. The Mayor and Assembly should look to bringshould look to bring London’s co- London’s co-operative housing operative housing stock up to the stock up to the European average of 10%. European average of 10%. 

Existing social housing stock should be Existing social housing stock should be made moremade more accountable to tenants. accountable to tenants.

The Mayor should promoteThe Mayor should promote mutual mutual forms of retirement homes.forms of retirement homes.

Co-operative Communities Co-operative Communities  Promote transfer of community assets – such Promote transfer of community assets – such

as city farms – to the control of local people. as city farms – to the control of local people. The Mayor should advocate a new The Mayor should advocate a new ‘community gateway’ ‘community gateway’ model model 

The Mayor should look to The Mayor should look to mutual modelsmutual models for for cultural events.cultural events.

The Mayor should support and promote the The Mayor should support and promote the Co-operative Councils initiative.Co-operative Councils initiative.

Young Londoners must have a real democratic Young Londoners must have a real democratic voice, voice,  a co-operative Youth Assembly  a co-operative Youth Assembly and and encouraging young people  to be encouraging young people  to be ambassadors for  their communitiesambassadors for  their communities

Ethical London Ethical London 

The Mayor and Assembly must The Mayor and Assembly must ensure that London takes seriously ensure that London takes seriously its position as the world’s largest its position as the world’s largest Fairtrade city.Fairtrade city.

London’s green spaces – such as the London’s green spaces – such as the Royal Parks - should beRoyal Parks - should be made more made more accountable accountable to Londoners  to Londoners  

The Mayor and GLA should use 2012, The Mayor and GLA should use 2012, the the UN’s Year of Co-operatives, UN’s Year of Co-operatives, to to promote our movement and teach promote our movement and teach the values of co-operationthe values of co-operation

Sustainable Infrastructure Sustainable Infrastructure 

The Mayor should promote and develop The Mayor should promote and develop consumer energy co-operatives consumer energy co-operatives as a as a radical way to cut fuel poverty, tackle radical way to cut fuel poverty, tackle climate change and address the cost of climate change and address the cost of living crisis.living crisis.

London’s London’s infrastructure should be infrastructure should be greener, sustainable, better greener, sustainable, better integrated and ‘smarter’. integrated and ‘smarter’. The new The new Mayor should advocate a smart city Mayor should advocate a smart city approach and improved access to approach and improved access to broadband, especially through telecoms broadband, especially through telecoms co-operatives. co-operatives. 

Mayoral ResultMayoral Result

London Assembly London Assembly

What do these results mean for What do these results mean for Labour on the London Labour on the London

Assembly? Assembly?

Labour have increased their control Labour have increased their control over London's Assembly, despite over London's Assembly, despite Boris's win in the Mayoral elections Boris's win in the Mayoral elections

We now have 12 seats, a gain of four We now have 12 seats, a gain of four over last year at the expense of the over last year at the expense of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, and the Green Party held on parties, and the Green Party held on to their two seats. to their two seats.

Where next ?Where next ?

The Co-operative movement and The Co-operative movement and

London's future ?London's future ?

Issues facing LondonersIssues facing Londoners

Unemployment, Low pay and PovertyUnemployment, Low pay and Poverty High cost of LivingHigh cost of Living Homelessness, lack of affordable Homelessness, lack of affordable

homes homes High private rents, bad landlordsHigh private rents, bad landlords Cuts to public services NHS, Police, Cuts to public services NHS, Police,

CouncilsCouncils Impact of population growth –Impact of population growth –

transport capacitytransport capacity Environment – poor air qualityEnvironment – poor air quality

Questions and Questions and Discussion Discussion

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