Co-op Party Banners

The original co-operators wanted their movement to be politically and religiously neutral. By the start of the twentieth century many within the movement felt that they needed their voice within the parliament. By 1917 the basis of the co-operative Party had been established. Today the party has a sizeable number of MPs and Lords. A typical number might be over 30 Co-operative MPs, 8MSPs, 5 Welsh Assembly Members and over 7000 councillors. Along with our membership of 8,000, they work with the Labour Government to promote co-operative and mutual forms of economic, social and voluntary organisation, based on mutual ownership and democratic control. It has an alliance with the Labour Party but still remains an independent political party.