The close of Aditya Chakrabortty’s Alternatives column (26 September) is an opportunity to spread alternatives for economic justice and sustainability across the mainstream of the Guardian. The business environment we trade in tends to assume that companies are investor-owned, and operating against that default incurs cost and risk. It takes confidence, even courage, to grow alternatives. Similarly, media reporting on alternatives takes effort, reaching outside of the bubble of the stock market ticker tape and corporate PR.
One example, the community shares model for co-ops, with over 100,000 member investors, has been a game-changer. Community energy, village shops, community-owned pubs and new online platform co-ops are reinventing capital markets on a local, human scale. The same is true for every other part of the economy, from housing and work to trade and innovation. In each case, there are extraordinary stories of people coming together, stories of setbacks and scandals of the neglect of communities by powerful institutions.
It is true that there is no one blueprint of alternative action, and sometimes our diversity of tribes and names can make it hard to join up the dots. But there are increasing partnerships across those working in the social economy of co-operatives, mutuals, employee-owned firms and social enterprise, because of a sense of urgency. We know that now is the time for a more fundamental debate.
How do we change the economy towards the values of equality and sustainability? Here is a story that affects us all.
Ed Mayo
Co-operatives UK
Aditya Chakrabortty is right to restate Nye Bevan’s key question: “Where does power lie … and how can it be attained by workers?”
A recent BMG Research poll for the Electoral Reform Society showed that 75% of Labour voters believe democracy in Britain is in urgent need of reform, as do two-thirds of voters in general.
Labour conference spent a lot of time debating its internal democracy. But this conversation needs to be expanded to include the entire Westminster system, from a fair, proportional electoral system where every vote counts, to scrapping the archaic House of Lords and tackling the “wild west” in modern campaigning.
We cannot truly “take back control” within the confines of a crumbling democracy. Without political equality, there is simply no way to build real economic equality: the rules of the game are rigged against workers.
A new Charter for Democracy would show Labour is serious about giving power to the many. This vital work should start now.
Nancy Platts
Politics For The Many campaign co-ordinator, and former trade union adviser to Jeremy Corbyn
Nye Bevan knew from his experiences in Tredegar the limitations of local initiatives of the kind Aditya Chakrabortty has covered in his excellent series. It was the reason he posed the question “Where was the power and which the road to it?” His answer, the conquest of the commanding heights of the economy, was the challenge then and remains so for the Labour party and working people today.
Michael Leigh
London
“Where there’s a will there’s a way” is certainly true here in south-west Scotland. When financial support for meals on wheels was withdrawn the Royal Voluntary Service gave it up. Our local volunteers who delivered the food were so concerned to keep the provision of meals going, however, that they persuaded a local hotel to provide the food at the same price as before and the much appreciated service and regular visits will continue. The community council will help with insurance etc. Good on you, girls!
Helen Keating
Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire
Although I admire and usually agree totally with Aditya Chakrabortty, I must disagree with him when he says that Brexit has brought chaos on the all-powerful. On the contrary, hedge fund managers and private equity partners must be rubbing their collective hands with glee in anticipation of the economic situation here in six months’ time.
Patrick Billingham
Brighton
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