Starmer’s Labour to trash Sheffield’s Democracy, not on our watch

We stand with 'It's Still Our City'.

Cooperation Sheffield stand with ‘It's Still Our City’, a citizen-led democracy campaign responsible for one of the UK's largest campaigns to reshape a city's local democracy.

In 2021, the people of Sheffield voted overwhelmingly to embrace a Committee-based Council structure. This referendum was won through citizen-led democratic engagement, conversations between ordinary people, and a petition of over 26,000 people calling for a referendum, gathered by the 'It's Our City' Campaign.

The Council Committee system gives each elected Councillor a vote on issues core to the workings of Sheffield - a far more democratic system than Sheffield's former 'strong leader' structure, where a small Cabinet undertakes decisions on behalf of the City.

In 2025, Starmer's Labour is coming for Sheffield's referendum, with Minister of State Jim McMahon calling for the abolishment of Committee Council structures in the upcoming English Devolution Bill.

Cooperation Sheffield has provided a campaign donation and is in solidarity with the pertinently renamed, 'It's Still Our City' - who demand the result of Sheffield's referendum be upheld and Westminster to respect the will of the people of Sheffield. Support their campaign here.

‘It’s Still Our City’ are calling on the results of Sheffield’s 2021 referendum to be upheld

This policy shows that Labour have no interest in devolving any power into the people's hands, and more so tying it to a small number of Regional Mayors, whom can blindly follow policies catering to 'business as usual'; policies that pander to big business, attack the most vulnerable, and remove any voices of dissent.

We support this campaign to bolster the voices of the people of Sheffield. However, Cooperation Sheffield believes that no reform in Sheffield's Local Government can seal the cracks of our crumbling democracy.

Democracy should not just be constrained to the ballot box, or a referendum gifted by the whim of the establishment - but as a right to our everyday lives. A Council Committee system is a start, but Cooperation Sheffield would go further.

We'd like to see real neighbourhood governance, where People's Assemblies shape the neighbourhoods, boroughs and City they want to see - with Assemblies handling control over their essential needs, including energy, food and greenspace.

Cooperation Sheffield host People’s Assemblies to bring communities together and understand the challenges they face

Where there is party politics, there are back room deals, games played by the party-line and decisions made fixated on validation at the ballot box. Where party politics presides, the needs of the people will always be neglected.

Without corrupting influences from big business or NGOs, Cooperation Sheffield are building the foundations of an alternative democracy, one where all people have agency over their everyday lives, where the collective takes precedence over the individual, where we are ecologically centred, where we succeed, fail and rise together. We hope more of you will join us on this journey.

In solidarity with the people of Sheffield.

Always.

Cooperation Sheffield.