Labour and Co-operative Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Labour and Co-operative Party
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Parliamentary Group Chair | Preet Gill |
| Parliamentary Group Vice-Chair | Jim McMahon |
| Founded | 7 June 1927 |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colours |
|
| House of Commons | Parliament dissolved |
| House of Lords |
14 / 777
|
| Scottish Parliament |
11 / 129
|
| Senedd |
16 / 60
|
| London Assembly |
5 / 25
|
| Local government |
938 / 19,698
|
| PCCs and PFCCs |
16 / 37
|
| Directly elected mayors |
8 / 25
|
The Labour and Co-operative Party (often called Labour Co-op) is a special way that some politicians in the United Kingdom run for elections. It's like a team-up between two different political groups: the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party. When candidates run under this name, it means they are supported by both parties. This partnership helps them work together instead of competing against each other. It started a long time ago, in 1927.
In the December 2019 election, 26 Labour and Co-operative Party Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected. This made them the fourth largest political group in the House of Commons. Even so, these MPs are usually counted as part of the overall Labour Party numbers. The current leader of the Co-operative Parliamentary Group is Preet Gill, and the vice-chair is Jim McMahon.
Contents
What is the Labour and Co-operative Party?
The name "Labour and Co-operative" is officially registered with the Electoral Commission. This means it can appear next to a candidate's name on ballot papers when people vote. When someone is elected using this name, they continue to be known as part of the Labour and Co-operative Party.
These elected representatives often meet as their own group. For example, MPs who are Labour Co-op members are part of the larger Parliamentary Labour Party. But they also join with Labour Co-op members from the House of Lords to form the Co-operative Parliamentary Group.
How Candidates Use the Joint Name
Most candidates use the full "Labour and Co-operative" name. However, in some local elections or elections in Scotland, Wales, and London, they might use only one name. This is to avoid confusing voters. They don't want people to think Labour and Co-operative candidates are running against regular Labour candidates. Even if only one name is used, these candidates are still part of the Labour and Co-operative Group if they win.
Labour and Co-operative candidates also use a special joint logo. You can see this logo on their posters, leaflets, and websites.
History of the Labour and Co-operative Partnership
The Labour Party was formed in 1900, and the Co-operative Party started later in 1917. At first, these two parties worked on their own. But they saw themselves as part of a bigger movement. They both aimed to help similar groups of voters.
Early Cooperation and Agreements
Locally, the parties began to work together. They made informal agreements to support certain candidates. This helped them get more votes for centre-left politicians. The first Co-operative Party MPs who entered the House of Commons also chose to follow the rules of the larger Labour Party.
In 1925, they started working towards a formal national partnership. They created a special committee to draft an agreement. This agreement was officially approved in June 1927 at a meeting called the Co-operative Congress in Cheltenham. This became the first "National Agreement," also known as the "Cheltenham Agreement."
Developing the Partnership Over Time
The agreement has been updated many times over the years. Each update made the partnership between the two parties stronger. Earlier versions had rules, like limiting how many joint candidates could run. These limits were gradually removed.
The most recent National Agreement was signed in 2003. This agreement explains how candidates are chosen. It also describes how the two parties can work together at both local and national levels.
See also
- Labour Party
- Co-operative Party
- List of Labour Co-operative MPs
