by René Lavanchy
Labour manifesto co-ordinator Ed Miliband has promised to make co-operative ideals a part of the general election manifesto, as he launched a new political group for Labour and Co-op parliamentarians this week.
Gordon Brown has indicated he is interested in borrowing from the manifesto of the Co-op party, of which he is a member. The party’s manifesto currently calls for nationalised banks such as Northern Rock to be converted into mutuals, and for council tax to be replaced with a land value tax.
Gareth Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West and Co-operative Party chair, said: “Labour-Co-op MPs have been responsible for some significant achievements in recent years including the most comprehensive review of legislation governing co-operatives and providing reforms that saves the sector millions of pounds”.
“This group will allow other Labour MPs to campaign more effectively for the movement and help achieve the changes that are most important to co-operatives.”
