Paying tribute to Labour & Co-operative MP Jim Dobbin, whose death was announced on Sunday, Karin Christiansen, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party said:

“Jim Dobbin was a committed co-operator, who was proud to represent Rochdale – the birthplace of modern co-operation – as a Councillor and an MP for the last 30 years. Jim was a regular at Co-operative Party conferences, Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group meetings and was proud to be both Labour and Co-operative. Jim was a source of support to the Co-operative Party staff – many of whom will remember him fondly – and was never too busy to help the Party over the years.

In recent years, Jim championed the creation of the largest housing co-operative in Britain, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, which announced it was becoming a co-operative after an overwhelming vote by tenants in 2011. This year Jim introduced a piece of legislation under the Ten Minute Rule Bill in Parliament to strengthen the support that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) provide to the co-operative and mutual sector.

Jim Dobbin will be missed as a dedicated public servant and someone who was proud of the co-operative movement’s past but also committed to ensuring it had a bright future. My sincere condolences go to his family and friends.”