Paint Your Town Red: How Preston Took Back Control and Your Town Can Too by Matthew Brown & Rhian Jones Summary

1. Community wealth-building transfers economic power from corporations to local stakeholders
2. The Preston Model revives towns through anchor institution collaboration and local procurement
3. Instead of corporate reliance, build cooperative networks for sustainable community-driven economies
4. Democratic economy frameworks prioritize social value over profit in municipal decision-making
5. Insourcing public services cuts costs while improving quality through worker empowerment
6. Worker-owned businesses increase local wealth retention and democratic workplace participation
7. Community land trusts combat housing crises through collective property ownership models
8. Local procurement strategies kept £200 million yearly in Preston’s economy
9. Participatory budgeting gives residents direct control over municipal spending priorities
10. The "mess we’re in" demands radical municipal socialism not austerity fixes
11. Matthew Brown proves Labour councils can bypass Westminster’s failed policies
12. Socially conscious enterprises outperform corporations in community reinvestment and resilience

About the Author

Matthew Brown, co-author of Paint Your Town Red: How Preston Took Back Control and Your Town Can Too, is a pioneering advocate for economic democracy and Labour leader of Preston City Council. As the architect of the internationally recognized Preston Model, he promotes community wealth-building strategies through his role as a Senior Fellow at the Democracy Collaborative.

Rhian E. Jones, an acclaimed writer and co-editor of Red Pepper, brings expertise in cultural and political analysis. Her prior works include Clampdown: Pop-Cultural Wars on Class and Gender and Triptych: Three Studies of Manic Street Preachers’ The Holy Bible.

Their collaborative work blends grassroots activism with academic rigor, offering a blueprint for transforming local economies through democratic ownership models. The book has been praised as a revolutionary guide for policymakers and activists, referenced in international economic reform discussions and academic curricula. Jones’ newsletter contributions to Tribune magazine and Brown’s global lectures on municipal socialism further cement their authority in progressive economic theory.

FAQs About This Book

What is Paint Your Town Red by Matthew Brown and Rhian E. Jones about?

Paint Your Town Red explores how communities can reclaim economic and political power through local initiatives like the Preston Model. It combines case studies, policy analysis, and actionable strategies for community wealth-building—prioritizing democratic ownership, fair employment, and redirecting spending to local businesses. The book critiques neoliberal capitalism while offering blueprints for grassroots economic transformation.

Who should read Paint Your Town Red?

Local policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in equitable economic reform will find this book essential. It’s particularly relevant for municipal leaders seeking alternatives to austerity or centralized governance, as well as advocates of cooperative business models. Academics studying urban development or democratic socialism may also value its interdisciplinary approach.

Is Paint Your Town Red worth reading?

Yes—the book balances rigorous analysis with practical guidance, making it a compelling resource for those seeking tangible solutions to systemic inequality. Reviewers praise its “contagious sense of hope” and ability to translate complex economic concepts into accessible strategies for local action.

What is the Preston Model in Paint Your Town Red?

The Preston Model is a community wealth-building strategy where local institutions (like councils, hospitals, and universities) redirect spending to support regional businesses and cooperatives. Key outcomes include tripling local procurement to £111 million, creating jobs, and establishing worker-owned enterprises. The model emphasizes democratic control over economic resources rather than reliance on external corporations.

How does Paint Your Town Red address neoliberal capitalism?

The book critiques neoliberal policies for exacerbating inequality, austerity, and corporate dominance. It argues that urban entrepreneurialism and financialization have stripped communities of agency, advocating instead for participatory democracy and localized ownership to rebuild social and economic resilience.

What are the core principles of community wealth-building in the book?

• Plural ownership: Prioritizing cooperatives and community land trusts.
• Progressive procurement: Leveraging public spending to support local suppliers.
• Fair employment: Ensuring living wages and worker rights.
• Social use of land/property: Redirecting assets for public benefit.

Does Paint Your Town Red offer actionable steps for communities?

Yes. The final chapters provide a roadmap for local action, including:

• Building coalitions between councils, unions, and grassroots organizations.
• Auditing institutional spending to identify local reinvestment opportunities.
• Launching cooperative enterprises to retain wealth within communities.

How does the book address the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact?

It contextualizes the pandemic as a crisis that intensified existing inequalities, arguing that community wealth-building offers a pathway to recovery. Examples include redistributing resources to mutual aid networks and strengthening local supply chains to withstand shocks.

What critiques exist about Paint Your Town Red?

Some reviewers note challenges in scaling hyper-local models nationally and the reliance on progressive local governance. Others question whether the Preston Model can fully counter global capitalist forces without broader structural reforms.

How does Paint Your Town Red compare to other economic reform books?

Unlike abstract theoretical works, it focuses on real-world case studies (e.g., Preston, Mondragon) and emphasizes practicality. It aligns with David Harvey’s urban activism ideas but diverges by providing step-by-step implementation strategies.

Why is Paint Your Town Red relevant in 2025?

With rising inequality and climate crises, the book’s emphasis on local resilience and democratic ownership remains timely. Its strategies align with growing movements for municipalism and economic decentralization.

What quotes summarize Paint Your Town Red’s message?

• “A roadmap for how local public authorities [...] can leave deprivation behind and rebuild their communities”.
• “The mess we’re in [...] demands solutions that prioritize people over profit”.

Are there audiobook or summary versions of Paint Your Town Red?

Yes. Summaries and key takeaways are available on platforms like SoBrief, while audiobook editions can be found through major retailers.