Rowen hosts Co-operative Group Conference

Date published: 14 March 2010

Paul Rowen, MP for Rochdale, hosted the inaugural Liberal Democrat Friends of Co-operation Group event at Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Birmingham, and was joined by Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Cooperatives UK and Lorely Burt MP, Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Rochdale is widely known to be the home of the cooperative movement, with the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers setting out the original cooperative principles that have been used across the world.

In 2008, there were over 4,800 co-operative businesses in the UK, owned by 11 million people and sustaining more than 200,000 jobs. The sector had a combined turnover of almost £29 billion.

The event explored why cooperation is important, how it can help us in the current economic climate and how we can use cooperation to build a more sustainable future.

The speakers were questioned by members of the audience on the financial and social implications of cooperative principles.

Paul Rowen said: “This was the first event for Lib Dem Friends of Co-operation and it was a great success. The speakers were inspiring and we had a good discussion about why cooperation is important and how it can help us build a sustainable future.

"As the MP for the birthplace of cooperation, I know how cooperatives can play an important role in the economies, industries and communities of the UK.

"This event facilitated a good discussion about how liberal democrat principles and values can compliment and work with ideas of cooperation.”