The Co-operative Party is a relatively small political party, the largest socialist party operating in the United Kingdom, after the Labour Party

The party today

It is the political arm of the wider British co-operative movement, and all members of the party must be members of a co-operative society. Those who wish to stand for election must also be members of the Labour Party.

The majority of the party’s incomes comes from grants made by the retail co-operative societies, and from fees received for managing the political affairs of the Co-operative Union .

In its formative years the Co-operative Party was defensive, almost exclusively concerned with the trading and commercial problems of the co-op movement. Since the 1930s it has widened its emphasis. The basic principles underpinning the party are to seek recognition for co-operative enterprises, recognition for the social economy, and to advance support for co-operatives and co-operation across Europe and the developing world. They also claim to stand for a sustainable economy and society, a culture of citizenship and socially responsible business.

The Co-operative Party seeks to advance its agenda through the Parliamentary Labour Party. In 2004 there were 29 "Labour and Co-operative" MPs, 6 MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament), 5 AMs (Members of the Welsh Assembly) 9 Members of the House of Lords and 1 London Assembly Member, as well as over 700 local councillors. There is also an informal Co-operative Party group in the European Parliament.

As a result of the electoral agreement with the Labour Party only 30 "Labour and Co-operative” candidates receive financial help with election expenses from the Co-operative Party. Nevertheless, there are many other Labour MPs who are Co-operative Party members but are not sponsored. One of these is Gareth Thomas MP who was chair of the Co-operative Party and of the Co-operative Congress in 2003.

One result of the electoral agreement is that the Party has not registered a logo with the electoral commission for use on ballot papers, as candidates use the Labour Party "Rose" logo.

History

Joint Parliamentary Committee

The Joint Parliamentary Committee was set up in 1881 by The Co-operative Movement . Its was primarily a watchdog on parliamentary activities. Issues and legislation could only be raised in the House of Commons by lobbying sympathetic Labour MPs.

The Great War

At the start of the war, the many retail societies in the Co-op movement grew in both membership and trade, in part because of their very public anti-profiteering stance. When conscription was introduced and food and fuel supplies restricted, these societies began to suffer. The movement was under-represented on the various governmental distribution committees and draft tribunals. Co-ops received minimal supplies and even management were often drafted, whereas business opponents were able to have even clerks declared vital for the war effort. Societies were also required to pay excess profits tax, although their co-operative nature meant they made no profits

Central Co-operative Parliamentary Representation Committee

An Emergency Political Conference was held on 18 October 1917. As a result the Central Co-operative Parliamentary Representation Committee was formed in 1917, with the objective of putting co-operators into the House of Commons. This was soon re-named the Co-operative Party. At first the party put forward its own candidates, putting forward six in the 1918 general election. One candidate met with success, Alfred Waterson who became a Member of Parliament for the Kettering seat. Waterson took the Labour whip in Parliament. However, since 1927, the party has had an electoral agreement with the Labour Party, which allows for a limited number of Labour and Co-operative candidates. This means that the parties involved do not oppose each other. The agreement has been amended several times, most recently in 2003, which was made in the name of the Co-operative Party rather than the Co-operative Union.

Noted co-op politicians

• Albert Victor "AV" Alexander (1885 - 1965)
• Gordon Brown - Chancellor of the Exchequer since 1997.
• Ian Mikardo (1908 - 1993)
• Alfred Waterson - first Co-op MP.
• Ed Balls - economic adviser to Brown and prospective M.P. for Normanton in Yorkshire

External links

• Co-operative Party Website