‘Rochdale can lead the way’

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Ed Miliband speaking at a conference in Rochdale

Councils across the country could follow in the footsteps of Rochdale when it comes to co-operative councils, according to Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband MP.

On a visit to Rochdale today (Friday 15 July) to mark the launch of the Labour Councils Co-operative initiative Mr Miliband explained that Rochdale could lead the way.

The Pioneers movement began in Rochdale, and Mr Miliband said he “absolutely” thought the town could do it again.

He said: “I’m very proud that we are here to launch the Labour Co-op councils initiative here in Rochdale, because Rochdale is the pioneering home of the Co-operative movement and I think its more relevant than ever for the 21 century and just take young people themselves and the decisions they want to make about youth services for example again that is something where we can put power in the hands of them and I think lots of other councils are going to be following Rochdale’s lead.”

Mr Miliband added: “I think it’s about the decisions that people want made in their lives about the things that affect them like housing shouldn’t just be made by councillors, they shouldn’t just be made by council officers, they should be made by people themselves.

“Out of all our experiences if you involve people in decision making, like tenants in decisions about their council house or their block of flats that will make a big big difference to the quality and their involvement, so that’s the kind of thing we are talking about.

“We are talking about ways in which people themselves can take control of the issues that matter to them.”