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James Wright

@jameslwright.bsky.social
58 followers 24 following 40 posts

Mostly co-ops, policy and the better world that is probably possible

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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Leaders from across the co-operative movement have written to the Prime Minister @andyburnham.bsky.social with this message of partnership, ambition and hope: www.uk.coop/resources/le...
uk.coop
Letter to the Prime Minister: Co-operatives and good growth
Read and download the letter from Co‑operatives UK and leaders from across the co‑operative movement, setting out how co‑operatives can help deliver the government's programme for good growth, secure ...
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Channel Islands Co-op has launched a charitable initiative, the Community Impact Fund, which will reinvest unclaimed member balances from dormant accounts into community, environmental, social, and heritage projects. www.thenews.coop/ci-coop-laun...
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Chaitanya Kumar @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
He argues for slowing Net zero and prioritising cheaper energy. This is short-termist rubbish. Sacrificing the green transition won't magically fix the fiscal gap, it just leaves the UK lagging in the race for clean tech. For someone concerned about UKs position in the world, it is a bizarre take.
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
UK's OurCoop wins King’s Award for Enterprise for promoting #socialmobility, working with ventures like Bright Futures on #modernslavery and Fairer Futures on employment barriers #coops www.thenews.coop/ourcoops-soc...
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Nothing trifling about this news. 🎉 The Community Right to Buy has become law, giving communities a stronger chance to protect valued local assets and services. More shops, pubs, community centres and shared spaces could stay rooted in community ownership. Read more: www.uk.coop/news/communi...
Photograph of a young child, celebrating, with arms aloft, in front of a huge trifle.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
New primary evidence on the potential of care co-ops and the changes needed for them to truly thrive.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Great to see our friends at @socialenterprise.scot flying the flag for the whole Inclusive and Democratic Business Alliance here. Will you sign-up too? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/le...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Let's grow Scotland's social economy
Business-as-usual in our economy isn’t working. From the cost of living and doing business, to rampant inequality and low pay, while the rich get richer and the planet suffers - real solutions are ur...
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
The #ScottishElection2026 takes place on Thursday 7 May. What does this mean for #coops? We've captured all of the key manifesto policies affecting co-operatives in one place: buff.ly/rMez33J #Scotland #Elections #ScottishElection
Policy - Scottish election manifestos - a summary of the party manifesto pledges on co-operatives. With an image of a Scottish flag on a building.
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The UK’s OurCoop says it is helping to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 65,000 homes through community energy partnerships #coops #retail #renewables www.thenews.coop/ourcoop-part...
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Ahead of the Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections on 6 May, we've created a guide to set out how you can use the Call for a Co-operative Scotland to engage with MSP candidates and political parties before, during and after the election. Access it here: buff.ly/6dxkTLh #Holyrood2026 #coops
Policy

Call for Co-operative Scotland.

Scottish 2026 Holyrood Elections. Guidance for engaging with candidates.

Co-operatives UK
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
UK #farmer #coops: MP calls for debate on sector growth, Co-operatives UK and Arla suggest support measures; but English producer organisations lose dedicated Fruit and Veg Aid Scheme fund @cooperativesuk.bsky.social @coopparty.party.coop www.thenews.coop/mp-calls-for...
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
There is an under-explored opportunity to develop small business co-ops in the UK, highlighted in our co-operative growth plan. Hope government can learn from the example of South Korea www.uk.coop/PolicyPlanFo...
uk.coop
Policy Plan for Co-operative Growth
The Department for Business and Trade invited the mutual sector to prepare bold plans for growth. In response, we have worked with members, partners and experts across the UK to create a practical, ev...
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Scottish co-operatives, we need your input. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 We're inviting Scottish co-operatives to feed into our proposed principles on the future of co-operative development in Scotland before 31 March.
Policy - Principles for co-operative development in Scotland. - Co-operatives UK
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
ICYMI: Our letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero @ed-miliband.bsky.social welcoming the #LocalPowerPlan 👏 @rosemarley.bsky.social @jameslwright.bsky.social @energy4alluk.bsky.social
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New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
A crackdown on profiteering in the care sector is much needed. Recent RORE research found that in just three English regions private companies took more than £250m in profit over three years from the care sector. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Ministers to crackdown on profiteering in care sector and make renewed fostering push
Josh MacAlister issues warning as government launches £88m ‘call to arms’ to find homes for 10,000 foster children
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Givit is a worker-owned delivery #cooperative providing last-mile courier services in Spain. In 2025, it generated €12.11m in revenue from €13.57m in billed sales, with over 900 active worker-members. The co-operative delivers more than 200,000 orders each month. www.thenews.coop/is-a-co-op-m...
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Vica @vicarogers.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Come and work in our fantastic team supporting and inspiring people to set up #co-ops. Deadline coming up soon! 👇🏼
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Co-op News @coopnews.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Belgian regulatory change eliminates ‘false’ #coops – and halves sector numbers, but movement still makes significant contribution to economy, says national report on sector from KU Leuven
thenews.coop
Belgian rule change eliminates ‘false’ co-ops – and halves sector numbers
The number of co-ops in Belgium has halved over the past ten years as rules eliminate 'false co-ops', the latest study of the sector reveals
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
UK government is consulting on co-operative business support, for the first time since... oh before you were born. Here are some way co-ops can get involved 👇
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
"It's brilliant that government has used Budget to open the call for evidence on business support for co‑operatives. With the right conditions in place, co‑operatives will deliver inclusive, grassroots growth." Momentous news Read all about it 👇 buff.ly/r28ieiJ
A photograph of Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, alongside her quote in reaction to the Autumn Budget which reads: "This is a once in a generation opportunity for our sector."
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 26/11/2025
1/5 📢 Our response to today’s Budget: "The Chancellor is right to frame her Budget around delivering growth and improving public services, so we all feel the impact: this must include the community businesses driving change in their neighbourhoods...
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Had a great day at @coopparty.party.coop Conference. Enjoyed being on a panel with @jimmcmahon.co.uk talking about local coop development. So much promise and potential right now!
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The Centre for Local Economies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
🚨 Public money is being siphoned out the care system in profits, with millions going to private equity and tax haven firms @theguardian.com's @journo-jess.bsky.social has the story of our investigation into extraction from our care system ⤵️ www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years
More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research finds
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
1/ We won't have a financially viable state (or a happier society!) until we end the profit extraction taking place in care. In @theguardian.com today, a new report uncovers the extent of this extraction and highlights viable alternatives including #coops www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years
More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research finds
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Great to be watching @jimmcmahon.co.uk and fellow MPs discuss what government is doing, and can do, to grow the co-operative sector this afternoon: whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal53211
whatson.parliament.uk
Westminster Hall debate - What's on - UK Parliament
Government support for the co-operative sector
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
100% agree strategic authorities should have a duty to target inclusive growth.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
We're empowering people in Islington to kick-start co-ops with the help of @IslingtonBC. Join a FREE workshop, 20 November, to receive 1:1 support funded by #UKSPF Support delivered through our Business Support for Co-ops programme visit: buff.ly/HtBfmdZ #UKSPF #coops
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Vital that we connect co-op development to the community energy revolution
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
One week to book - FREE webinar! 🌱 Discover how co-ops drive climate action with Marianne Brown (Bristol Energy Co-op) & Jonathan Atkinson (People Powered Retrofit). 📆 15 Oct, 10:30–12:00 👉 buff.ly/0w0I8oI In partnership with the Centre for Democratic Business, funding from The Co-operative Bank.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Ownership is strength. If we want a strong country we need to reclaim control of our infrastructure and services.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
We at #Labour Conference with the Salford Mayor and GMCA lead for housing Paul Dennett, and brilliant @cooperativesuk.bsky.social members People Powered Retrofit and Community Energy England taking about retrofit co-ops.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Huge thanks to @andrewpakes.bsky.social for joining the coop and mutual crew at #Labour Conference. How do we mainstream coops and mutuals in policy? "The door is ajar, its up to us need to keep it open." Sound advice.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
We're at the upcoming Labour Party Conference and we're especially looking forward to the following events with our partners. See below and see full details in the conference programme... #labourconference #coops #CoopEconomy #memberowned #cooperatives
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Locality @locality.org.uk · 25/09/2025
The Pride in Place programme's investment in 330 disadvantaged neighbourhoods could be hugely significant. The answers to the problems we face are in local communities. To unlock this potential, the government must learn lessons from previous programmes and embed community control and ownership.
bit.ly
Building Thriving Neighbourhoods: The Locality Manifesto - Locality
Through the new Locality Manifesto, we’re calling for a “community power revolution”. We know that local communities are best placed to transform lives and create a fairer society.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
1/ Pride in Place programme has massive potential to: 👭Empower communities to change things for the better 🏫Democratise ownership and control of local assets With a major role for co-ops and mutuals www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride
Local communities will be handed new powers to revitalise their high streets and restore pride in their towns.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
And co-ops and mutuals make a outsized contribution to GDP, while paying higher wages, reducing inequality, addressing market failures and increasing resilience and social cohesion!
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
📻 All about people coming together to take ownership and control of the businesses and places that matter to them. Our CEO @rosemarley.bsky.social was excellent on BBC Radio 4 this morning. Listen back from 7.21am: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... #Coops #CoopEconomy
bbc.co.uk
Radio 4 - Listen Live - BBC Sounds
Listen live to BBC Radio 4 on BBC Sounds
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
🚨 Urgent: The final vote on Scotland’s Housing Bill is 23 Sept. This is the last chance to secure amendments that strengthen co-operative housing in Scotland. 📩 We're calling on our Scottish members to contact their MSPs using our template email: buff.ly/CARUrpu #Coops #HousingBill #Scotland
Scottish Housing Bill - Contact your MSPs ahead of the final vote
Image of castle with a Scottish flag.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
📢 Credit unions: Our new partnership with ABCUL means their members can now join Co-operatives UK at 50% off: 🛠️ Boost governance 📈 Stay aligned with PRA expectations 👥 Strengthen your Board 👉 Visit buff.ly/CwWFmzs #CreditUnions #Coops #BoardEffectiveness #PRAready
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
This kind of capital raising to fund expansion, is critical to a larger more impactful mutual economy. It needs to be an option for a wider range of coops and mutuals. share.google/EHkN4F1lWNGY...
share.google
Second CCDS offer from Ecology Building Society now open
Ecology Building Society is looking to raise up to £6.5m of additional capital to support the next phase of its ambitious growth plans
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Proscribing Palestine Action as 'terrorist' awful. It was criminal damage as direct action protest. Calling it terrorism is overkill and risks making the term meaningless, when it should refer to something really horrible and extreme: harming innocents to create and then leverage terror.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
GMCA is very lucky to have strong local credit unions, working together through a consortium, in partnership with a pioneering local retrofit co-op. This degree of co-operative capability doesn't appear over night and needs to be nurtured.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Today is the day. I don't expect detailed allocations of funding for co-op development in the Spending Review. But I am hoping to see statements of policy that some of the funding for business support, the British Business Bank, clean power and housing, will be used in ways that enable co-ops.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
We're calling for bold co-operative investment in the 2025 Spending Review, delivered on Wednesday. #Coops boost productivity, build resilience & keep wealth local — but need support to have even more impact. 📝 Read a blog from our Policy Lead covering our asks of government. 🔗 buff.ly/xCg3CxV
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Awesome to feel the Scottish coop sector get a bit more pumped about their own brilliance, and the global coop family. Helped along by @rosemarley.bsky.social
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
🗳️ Scottish co-operatives – we need your voice! The deadline for your feedback on the Community Wealth Building Bill is fast approaching. The Community Wealth Building Bill could boost #coops. Help shape how. 📅 Have your say by 19 May 👉https://buff.ly/LpwKhGr #Coops #FairerScotland #CWB #CoopEconomy
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Media Reform Coalition @mediareformuk.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
The BBC is in crisis: captured by elites, isolated from the public & failing in the digital age If the BBC is going to survive it must be transformed into a new kind of institution Our new report w/ @cmmonwealth.bsky.social on how to mutualise the BBC, giving the public real ownership & power:
common-wealth.org
Our Mutual Friend: The BBC in the Digital Age | Briefing | Common Wealth
The upcoming BBC Charter Review is an opportunity to transform the BBC into a public service mutual, founded on a genuinely democratic relationship with the public.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
💬 In our response to the Department for Business consultation on access to finance for small businesses, we shared insights from the co-operative sector. Co-operatives want to grow - but finance is holding us back. 🧵(1/5)
Photo of financial charts - by Nick Chong on Unsplash.
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Independent research by WPI Economics finds that: 📈co-ops and mutuals make outsized contribution to growth 🌏while also delivering for people and planet 💳but the fastest growing mutuals are held back most by barriers to finance www.uk.coop/news/governm...
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James Wright @jameslwright.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
In Canada, they are making a £800m ($1.5bn) investment in co-operative housing. Could we do things on the same scale in the UK?
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