The NEC of the Co-operative Party is elected every three years, with the current members serving from June 2017-20. The NEC is also the Board of the Society, Co-operative Party Ltd. It normally meets quarterly, with the June meeting being the AGM.

The most recent meeting of the NEC took place on Friday 12 October, prior to the start of Annual Conference.

The NEC confirmed support for the TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ campaign and signed the Dying to Work Charter during Annual Conference.

We are the first political party to do so.

As at 30 September, the Party had 11,523 members, an increase of 7% on the same time last year.

All nations and regions have increased their members, with the North West showing the largest increase (10.5%).

34.4% of members are women.  This is an increase but still a cause for concern, which the NEC will discuss at the Strategy Weekend in November.

If you or your members have ideas for recruitment, particularly to increase diversity, please get in touch.

The number of members voluntarily paying more than the standard membership rate has doubled over the past year.  If you can afford a little bit more, please let us know.

Jim McMahon MP, Chair of the Co-operative Parliamentary Group, Anna Turley MP and Lord Kennedy reported on recent work.

This included work on modern slavery, co-ops fortnight, violence against shop workers, the New Economics Foundation Report and panel with John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor.

As reported in the last Newsletter, the NEC agreed to refresh the Party’s brand for our 2nd Century.

The General Secretary presented the latest ideas to the NEC – look out for our new brand soon.

All political Parties have been asked to consider what they can do to enable people with disabilities to be elected as MPs, MSPs, AMs and councillors.

 There is some government funding to support this.

The NEC is asking members with disabilities what we can do to enable more to be selected and elected as Labour and Co-operative representatives.  Please contact – Joe Fortune (Parliamentary) or Emma Hoddinott (Local Government).

The General Secretary gave a full report to the NEC on recent work towards the Party’s strategic objectives.

This NEC meeting took place towards the end of the Party’s Month of Action on Modern Slavery.  You can read more about our members, councillors and MPs actions and successes leading up to and during the month of action here.

These will be reviewed for 2019-2021 at the NEC Strategy Weekend in November.

The NEC discussed the Party’s income and expenditure to date and balance sheet.

The draft budget for 2019 will be agreed the next meeting.