Co-operative Party

This article is about the British political party. For other parties of the same name, see Co-operative Party (disambiguation).

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, usually Labour MPs. As it was somewhat unsatisfactory to have to lobby MPs on each individual issue, motions were passed at the Co-operative Union Annual Congress urging direct parliamentary representation. However, societies would not commit funds.

Related Topics:
The Co-operative Movement - Labour MPs

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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.

Related Topics:
Conscription - Co-operative

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A motion was tabled at the 1917 Congress held in Swansea by the Joint Parliamentary Committee and 104 retail societies, calling for direct representation at national and local government levels. The motion was passed by 1979 votes to 201.

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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.

Related Topics:
18 October - 1917 - House of Commons

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At first the party put forward its own candidates. The first was H J May, later Secretary of the International Co-operative Alliance, who was unsuccessful at the 1918 Prestwich by-election. Ten then stood 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.

Related Topics:
H J May - International Co-operative Alliance - 1918 - Prestwich - 1918 general election - Alfred Waterson - Member of Parliament - Kettering - Labour - Whip

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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.

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Chairs of the Co-operative Party

• 1918-1924 Mr W. H. Watkins
• 1924-1945 Alfred Barnes MP
• 1945-1955 William Coldrick MP
• 1955-1957 Mr A. Ballard
• 1957-1965 James, later Lord, Peddie
• 1965-1972 Mr H. Kemp CSD, JP
• 1972-1978 Mr A. J. Parkinson
• 1978-1982 Mr T. Turvey JP
• 1982-1989 Mr B. Hellowell
• 1989-1995 Mrs J. Carnegie
• 1995-1996 Mr P. Nurse
• 1996-2001 Jim Lee
• 2001-present Gareth Thomas MP