Many of you will have local elections in your area in May 2018.

We’ve published guidance on selecting, electing and supporting Labour and Co-operative councillors, including what you need to do to apply for a certificate for your local Co-operative Party candidates.

Multi-member wards

We have received some queries about candidates in multi-member wards.  All the candidates on the ballot paper must have the same description i.e. all ‘Labour’ or all ‘Labour and Co-operative’, but if you have a candidate in a multi-member ward who would otherwise stand as Labour and Co-operative, you can still support them if they state in their election literature that they are also supported by the Co-operative Party.

You should include these on the form listing your supported candidates, so they can also receive national guidance.

We are offering a conference call in for members this Thursday 25th January, if you wish to ring in please contact John Boyle

For candidates standing in the May elections, you will need to request certificates by 28 February.

A revised Sexual Harassment Policy was circulated in November.  Please ensure that your members are aware of it.

We aim to support and help all our regional and national Parties to hold successful and worthwhile conferences throughout 2018 and beyond

These are now planned for the East Midlands and North West (see below) – others to follow.

NB do not confuse with Labour Party Regional Conferences also listed below.

Co-operative Party Regional Conferences

• North West Region – Saturday 24th February, 10.30am to 3.30pm – Foresight Rooms, University of Liverpool
• East Midlands Region – Saturday 3rd March 10.30am to 3.30pm  – Bonington Theatre, Arnold, High Street Arnold. Nottingham NG5 7EE.

Regional Labour Party Conferences

• West Midlands – 3 March 2018 – Birmingham
• Yorkshire & Humber – 10 March 2018 – Saltaire
• South East – 3/4 November 2018 – Southhampton

Scottish Labour Conference – 9-11 March 2018 – Dundee

Welsh Labour Conference – 20-22 April 2018 – Llandudno

The NEC is updating the Party’s rules and redrafting the Rule Book to make it simpler and clearer.

If there are any aspects of the Party’s Rule Book that you think need revising or are confusing, please contact Karen Wilkie by 16 February.

We will circulate proposed changes for consultation before putting them to Annual Conference in October.

Labour Party selections are taking place in many areas ready for the next General Election, whenever that may be.

If any of your members are considering standing as a candidate and applying to the Co-operative Party, they should contact Joe Fortune for guidance.

Joe Fortune

General Secretary

Official Nominations

If your local party wishes to make an official nomination i.e to select a candidate from the Parliamentary panel who, if selected by the CLP would become an official Labour and Co-operative candidate, contact Joe Fortune to discuss seeking the agreement of the NEC.

Unofficial Nominations

If you wish to make an unofficial nomination, you can find the process for this in the Rule Book.  Branches must seek the permission of the Party Council before making a nomination.

We encourage our members to engage with their Co-operative Societies and the wider Co-op Movement.

This not only strengthens our relationship with co-operatives but educates and informs our members, enabling them to represent the Movement and benefit in their Party work.  What better way to get Co-operative Housing in a local area if your councillors can refer to a successful Housing Co-op.

Upcoming society events

• Phone Co-op AGM – Saturday 3 February 2018 Pennine Lecture Theatre  Sheffield Hallam University S1 1WB Sheffield. 12 for workshops, 1.00 pm lunch, 2 pm to 4 pm
• Nominations to the Co-operative Group National Membership Council are open until 16 February 2018. Members of the Group with £1,000 spend in 2017 can apply. Members with £250 spend can vote later in year.   See here for details.  Chelmsford Star and Central England Co-operatives both open their nominations for Board and Membership Councils in March.
• Ways Forward 6 Conference Friday 16th February Central Hall Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JQ.  See here for details

Last week the Party launched its 2018 policy consultation, the process through which members and local parties have the chance to shape the Party’s stance on key issues. This year’s process will cover two topics: The Economy and Brexit.

The Party has produced the following guidance for Officers, which we hope will help make this years’ process a success.

Centenary souvenirs, along with plenty of other great gifts are still available in our online shop.

Co-operative Party Tea Towel

This tea towel commemorates the founding of the Co-operative Party in 1917, featuring artwork from an early Party leaflet and updated to include the seven co-operative principles that you unite co-operatives all around the world.

'Co-operation is a theory of society and, therefore, a legitimate basis for a political party. If there is still any doubt as to the need for political action, this Conference will settle that doubt. We have things to safeguard, things to stand for, things to achieve.' - T W Allen, Chairman of the Co-operative National Emergency Conference, October 1917