Labour candidates in Swindon have confirmed they will stand under a joint banner with the Co-operative Party at upcoming elections, setting out a platform centred on local control, shared wealth and community-led decision making.
The move formalises an already close relationship with the Labour Party, with joint candidates increasingly common across the country. In Swindon, it also reflects a broader direction of travel, with Swindon Borough Council having recently declared itself a “Co-operative Council”.
In practical terms, that means a focus on keeping more money circulating locally. The council says it has already increased the proportion of its spending with local businesses from 38 to 48 per cent, with a stated aim of reaching 60 per cent in time.
There’s also an emphasis on different models of ownership — co-operatives, mutuals and community-run services — intended to give residents a greater stake in how local assets are managed. One example cited is ongoing work with the Swindon Town Supporters Trust to secure Asset of Community Value status for the County Ground.
Much of the thinking sits within the work of the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN), a national group exploring how co-operative principles can be applied in local government. Swindon councillor Jim Robbins, who chairs the network, has been closely involved in shaping that approach.
Supporters argue it offers a more resilient, locally rooted model of growth — one that keeps jobs, skills and investment within the town rather than flowing outward. Critics, as ever, may question how far such ideas can be scaled in practice.
Looking ahead, proposals include the creation of a municipal wealth fund for Swindon, expanded support for credit unions and further backing for community ownership of local assets, from high streets to sports clubs.
For Labour and Co-operative candidates, the message is consistent: shift power closer to communities and ensure the benefits of growth are more widely shared.
Whether that message resonates with voters will become clearer when polling day arrives.
