The other interesting thing is that many Lloyds TSB members can now tell if their branch is going to change, if Lloyds is happy to see the back of them: the signs near me have been replaced by easier-to-change standard-sized temporary boxes on white fascias. So if your account is at one of those branches, why not jump before you’re pushed and switch to a customer-owned bank?

The likes of David Willetts ( The Pinch: 2010) and Francis Beckett ( What did the Baby Boomers ever do for us: 2010) and several others, have blamed Older People for stealing their children’s future, being selfish, being rich and offering up little to help address the National financial woes. Older People are either blamed or patronized depending on whether they are seen as contributors, wasters, economic liabilities, health and social care drains……….and here’s my point…. CO-OPERATORS. What I have yet to see from the Co-operative Sector and Movement is the harnessing of its older Membership and thus facilitating the very voice Bill says they have. Their voices are muted and remain muted by a failure to see their social value. When will the Co-operative Sector and movement wake up to their responsibilities to engage with its’ older shareholding Members or is working with members to support the Societies businesses ( be they trade, social or community benefit ) not important? The Co-operative Group’s 2011-13 Ethical Operating Plan ( by the way carrying the strap line- A revolutionary approach to social responsibility) rightly promised £30m for its Inspiring Young People programme. Great, no complaint from this ageing, grey haired co-operator in that regard. My vision is to see an Ethical Plan that in addition understands that we should be a Co-operative of all Ages releasing resources to older grass roots members and Societies that seek to be part of the quiet, grass roots revolution. Pity that the Co-operative values and principles I believe in appear to have little impact in releasing the voices of older people inside and outside the Sector.

Being a co-operative or being a Council ( or organisation ) based on its principles and values, does not in, and of itself, safeguard those without power and influence from poor services and poor practice……..” To those that have power, more will be given, to those without ……etc “. The issue therefore is about democratic control. I see no evidence, in my short history in a new Co-op ( Com-Ben) which came out of a government quango, that the co-operative sector and movement have really grasped it’s potential to fundamentally change how society regard those without power, live in poverty and without influence over and above engage in putting a cross on an election ballot paper every few years.

As Owen Jones has written, the Working Class has become demonized, but as John Restarkis and Robin Murray have demonstrated, Co-operatives can humanize the economy and indeed public services. The problem perhaps is, not just how the public sector fail to understand Co-operatives but that the co-operative sector and movement fail to understand the public sector. !