Co-op Group to continue political support

The future of the Co-operative Group’s membership of the Co-operative Party has been secured after a vote at the group’s AGM in Manchester.

A motion, which asked members to approve the group continuing to make subscriptions to the Co-operative Party, was passed by 55%.

Co-op Group chair Allan Leighton confirmed that although the vote was “advisory”, the board had received the message from members and will continue working with the Co-operative Party.

A motion on whether the society should make any donations to political parties received 37% of votes in support whereas another on whether to only make donations to the Co-op Party received 48% and a third, which asked whether to make donations to a range of political parties, received just 24%.

Co-operative Party general secretary Karin Christiansen said: “It was a brilliant outcome for the Co-operative Party.

“Considering the poor phrasing of [the motions] and the failure of the Co-op Group to send even basic information to voters about the Co-op Party, this is a massively positive result.

“If this had been an informed and engaged process it is very likely that this support for involvement in politics and the Co-operative Party would have been even higher."

www.unison.org.uk/news/co-op-party-wins-continued-support-from-co-op-group?