Co-operative Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Co-operative Party
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|
|---|---|
 |
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| General Secretary | Joe Fortune |
| Chair of the NEC | Jim McMahon |
| Founded | 17 October 1917 |
| Headquarters | 83 Crampton Street London SE17 3BQ |
| Youth wing | Co-operative Party Youth |
| Membership (2022) |  13,194 |
| Ideology | Co-operatism Social democracy British unionism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Affiliate party | Labour Party (Labour and Co-operative Party) |
| Colours | Purple |
| House of Commons | Parliament dissolved |
| House of Lords |
16 / 777
|
| Scottish Parliament |
11 / 129
|
| Senedd |
16 / 60
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| Local Government |
938 / 19,698
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| London Assembly |
4 / 25
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| PCCs and PFCCs |
7 / 39
|
| Directly elected mayors |
4 / 25
|
The Co-operative Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. It believes in co-operative values and principles. This means they support businesses and groups where people work together and share the benefits. The party works closely with the Labour Party. They have an agreement not to run against each other in elections.
The Co-operative Party started in 1917. It was created by co-operative groups. Their goal was to speak up for co-operative businesses in politics. They wanted to elect people who supported co-operation to Parliament. The party is officially separate from the Labour Party. It is registered with the Electoral Commission. Members of the Co-operative Party can also be members of the Labour Party. They can also join the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland.
The Co-operative Party has many representatives. They have Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons. They also have members in the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), the London Assembly, and in local councils. The Co-operative Party does not have one single leader. Instead, different people share leadership roles. Joe Fortune is the General Secretary. Jim McMahon is the Chair of the National Executive Committee.
Contents
What is the Co-operative Party?
The Co-operative Party was formed in 1917. It was approved by a big meeting of the British co-operative movement in Swansea. Since 1927, the party has worked with the Labour Party. They often run joint candidates in elections. These candidates are known as 'Labour Co-operative'. In 1946, candidates first used the 'Labour Co-operative' name.
In its early years, the party mainly focused on business problems for co-operatives. Since the 1930s, it has grown its focus. It now aims to spread co-operative ideas and values. The party wants to see more co-operative businesses. It also supports a sustainable economy and society. They believe in good citizenship and businesses that care about society. The Co-operative Party works with the Labour Party to achieve these goals.
How did the party start?
A group called the Joint Parliamentary Committee started in 1881. It was part of The Co-operative Union. This committee watched what was happening in Parliament. They would ask friendly MPs, usually from the Labour Party, to raise issues. But it was hard to lobby MPs for every single issue. So, people at the Co-operative Union meetings started asking for their own representatives in Parliament.
World War I and the need for representation
During World War I, many co-operative shops grew. They had more members and sales. This was partly because they spoke out against people making too much money from the war. But when conscription (forcing people to join the army) started, and food was limited, co-operatives faced problems. They didn't have enough say on government committees. Their managers were often drafted into the army. Meanwhile, other businesses could keep their workers. Co-operatives also had to pay extra taxes, even though they don't make profits in the same way other businesses do.
In 1917, a motion was passed at a meeting in Swansea. It called for co-operatives to have their own representatives. This would be at both national and local government levels. This motion passed with a huge majority.
At first, Co-operative Party candidates ran separately from Labour in local elections. Before 1946, Co-operative Party candidates did not have to be Labour Party members. The Co-op Party saw itself as representing members of its co-operative societies. In the 1960s, it claimed to have over 11 million members.
Sometimes, the party said it was "non-political." For example, in 1932, a Co-operative Party councillor said his party was not linked to any other political party. He said it was made of members with different political views.
Forming the Co-operative Party
An important meeting was held on October 18, 1917. As a result, the Central Co-operative Parliamentary Representation Committee was formed. Its goal was to get co-operators into the House of Commons. This committee soon changed its name to the Co-operative Party. The first national secretary was Samuel Perry. He later became a Member of Parliament.
The party first put forward its own candidates. The first one was H. J. May, but he did not win. In the 1918 general election, ten Co-operative Party candidates ran. One person won: Alfred Waterson, who became an MP for Kettering. He worked with the Labour Party in Parliament. In 1919, 151 Co-operative Party councillors were elected locally.
In 1922, four new Co-operative MPs were elected. They all worked with the Labour Party. In 1923, six were elected, and in 1924, five were elected.
Working with the Labour Party
Since 1927, the Co-operative Party has had an agreement with the Labour Party. This agreement is called the Cheltenham Agreement. It means the two parties do not run candidates against each other. Instead, they agree on a limited number of Labour Co-operative candidates. This agreement has been updated several times.
After the agreement, nine Labour Co-operative MPs were elected in 1929. One of them, A. V. Alexander, became a government minister. However, only one was elected in 1931, when the Labour Party faced a big defeat.
Growing together
The Labour Party became stronger during World War II. The formal links with the Co-operative Party helped both groups. In 1945, 23 Labour Co-operative MPs were elected. Two of them, Alexander and Alfred Barnes, held important jobs in the Labour government.
However, as the co-operative movement slowly declined after the war, the party's influence also fell. By 1983, only eight Labour Co-operative MPs were elected.
But in 1997, all 23 Labour Co-operative candidates won their seats. After Labour came to power, the party had its first Cabinet members since Alexander. These included Alun Michael and Ed Balls. In 2001, only one Labour Co-operative candidate lost.
How the Co-operative Party is organised
The Co-operative Party is a membership organisation. It has individual members. It also includes local and national Co-operative Parties. Plus, co-operative societies and trade unions are connected to it. Unlike many other political parties, the Co-operative Party does not get money from the government. Most of its money comes from membership fees.
The party's main decision-making group is the National Executive Committee (NEC). Members, co-operative groups, trade unions, and other co-operative organisations elect the NEC every three years.
Every autumn, the party holds an Annual Conference. Here, members discuss policies and vote on ideas. These votes help guide the NEC.
The Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group helps coordinate the work of the party's MPs and Peers in Parliament.
Who is connected to the party?
Six of the UK's largest co-operative shops are linked to the Co-operative Party. These include the Co-operative Group, Midcounties Co-operative, and Central England Co-operative.
Members of each co-operative society vote to support the party every year. The Co-operative Group is the largest supporter. In 2019, 79% of its members voted to continue supporting the Co-operative Party. That year, they gave the party £625,600.
In 2016, Community became the first trade union to join the Co-operative Party. In 2018, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) also joined.
Other groups like Co-operatives UK and Co-operative Press are also members. Some worker co-operatives and housing co-operatives are members too.
Local groups
The Co-operative Party has local groups called Society Co-operative Parties. These work similarly to local Labour Party groups.
Co-operative societies support these local parties in their areas. The local party often uses the name of the supporting society. For example, the East of England Co-operative Party.
These local parties usually have smaller branches. These branches cover local areas. Members can discuss policies, choose candidates, and work with local Labour Party groups. A council made up of delegates from branches and the co-operative society oversees the local party.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have one national Society Co-operative Party. In England, a local party might cover one or more counties or even a whole region.
The Labour and Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party and the Labour Party have an agreement since 1927. This means they do not run against each other in elections. Instead, they agree on joint candidates. These candidates run as Labour and Co-operative Party.
Labour and Co-operative candidates can run in elections across England, Scotland, and Wales. Both parties are active in Northern Ireland, but they do not run candidates there.
The Co-operative Party has a special relationship with the Labour Party. Local Co-operative Parties join local Labour Party groups. This helps them work together and choose joint candidates.
Most candidates use the 'Labour and Co-operative Party' name on the ballot paper. Sometimes, for local elections, they might use only one name. This is to make sure voters don't think they are running against each other. But elected joint candidates are still part of the Labour and Co-operative Group.
Only the Labour Party symbol is used on the ballot paper. But candidates can use a joint logo on their other materials and websites.
Who leads the Co-operative Party?
The Co-operative Party does not have one single leader. Different people share the responsibilities. Jim McMahon is the Chair of the National Executive Committee. Preet Kaur Gill is the Chair of the Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group. Joe Fortune is the General Secretary. He manages the party's daily work. For official registration, the General Secretary is listed as the leader.
Past Chairs of the Co-operative Party
- 1918–1924 William Henry Watkins
- 1924–1945 Alfred Barnes MP
- 1945–1955 William Coldrick MP
- 1955–1957 Albert Ballard
- 1957–1965 James Peddie
- 1965–1972 Herbert Kemp CSD, JP
- 1972–1978 John Parkinson
- 1978–1982 Tom Turvey JP
- 1982–1989 Brian Hellowell
- 1989–1995 Jessie Carnegie
- 1995–1996 Peter Nurse
- 1996–2001 Jim Lee
- 2001–2019 Gareth Thomas MP
- 2019–2019 Anna Turley MP (June–December)
- 2019–2020 Chris Herries
- 2020–present Jim McMahon MP
Past General Secretaries of the Co-operative Party
- 1917–1942 Samuel Perry
- 1942–1962 Jack Bailey
- 1962–1967 Harold Campbell
- 1967–1974 Ted Graham
- 1974–1992 David Wise
- 1992–1998 Peter Clarke
- 1998–2008 Peter Hunt
- 2008–2012 Michael Stephenson
- 2012–2015 Karin Christiansen
- 2015–2019 Claire McCarthy
- 2019–present Joe Fortune
Who represents the Co-operative Party?
The Co-operative Party is the political part of the wider British co-operative movement. To be a candidate, you must be a member of a co-operative business. Candidates must also be members of the Labour Party. They then run as Labour and Co-operative Party candidates.
Members in Parliament and Assemblies
The Co-operative Party has representatives in various government bodies:
- House of Commons: There are 26 Labour and Co-operative MPs.
- House of Lords: There are 14 Labour and Co-operative Peers.
- Senedd (Welsh Parliament): There are 16 Labour and Co-operative Members of the Senedd.
- Scottish Parliament: There are 11 Labour and Co-operative Members of the Scottish Parliament.
- London Assembly: There are 11 Labour and Co-operative Members of the London Assembly.
- Directly Elected Mayors: There are 4 Labour and Co-operative metro mayors and 3 Labour and Co-operative local authority mayors.
- Local Government: In 2021, there were 938 Labour and Co-operative councillors across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Co-operative Party also works with the Labour Party in Northern Ireland. Members of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) can also join the Co-operative Party. However, neither party currently has members in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Images for kids
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October 1932 election address of Tom Collings
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Co-operative Party logo used until February 2019
See also
In Spanish: Partido Cooperativo para niños
- List of Labour Co-operative Members of Parliament
- Co-operative Party election results
- Rochdale Principles
- British co-operative movement
