On Monday the Co-operative Group launched ‘Have your Say’, which is an online survey designed to give members of the public the chance to input their views on the future of the organisation. The survey is part of the Group’s wider efforts to reform following the financial and personal difficulties that took place at the Bank (owned by the Co-operative Group) at the end of last year.

The Co-operative Group’s willingness to open up consultation to the public as a whole shows a real commitment to openness, transparency, and community involvement. These are the values that make Co-operatives different: it’s hard to imagine Tesco or Asda opening themselves up to public scrutiny in quite the same way.

The survey asks a number of questions about the Group’s long-standing relationship with us, the Co-operative Party, as well as its involvement in politics more broadly. For a public that has good reason to be wary of politics and politicians especially, it’s important that they have the full story.

Involvement in politics is one of the things that make retail co-operatives such as the Co-operative Group more than just businesses. It ensures they represent a wider set of values based on democratic control, community involvement and social responsibility, and that these values have a role in society as a whole – whether it’s putting parents and staff in control of their local schools, giving fans the chance to own their football club, or promoting credit unions as an affordable alternative to payday lenders. More pragmatically, it also ensures that co-operatives enjoy a level playing field with other types of business, which is the original reason why we were set up.

Today’s Guardian includes an editorial which highlights the value of the link between the co-operative Group and the Party, both to the co-operative movement, and to progressive politics in the UK as a whole – what are your views?

The ‘Have your Say’ survey is also currently open to responses; you can take part here:

http://www.haveyoursay.coop/