With just a few weeks of campaigning left till the local elections, from London to Newcastle, Tamworth to Plymouth, Co-op candidates are setting out their vision for those communities.

In the face of a Tory Government that shows no sign of slowing down the cuts to councils, and residents calling out for more control over the decisions and services that affect their lives, co-operative ideas are coming to the fore - 'Being the Difference' by championing grass roots solutions to the issues we face.

Before the elections the Co-op Party set out twelve ideas for local government – proven policies for real change, ranging from housing to modern slavery, credit unions to transport.

With every council seat up in major cities including London, housing rightly features highly as a key priority in local manifestos. Leeds, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Newcastle and Birmingham all share the co-operative principle of giving private rented tenants a real stake and voice in the housing, tackling the imbalance in this relationship and addressing the issue of landlords who fail to provide decent accommodation.