The NEC believes that equality and diversity should be represented across the membership of the NEC, and that ways should be sought to encourage and support under-represented sections of the membership to seek election.

There are a number of actions that the Co-operative Party can take to improve the diversity of candidates for the NEC e.g. targeted communications and training, and we will develop a set of proposals to support these in consultation with the Equalities Advisory Committee and individual network committees.

However, we are also consulting on whether there should also be separate representation from under-represented groups and, if so, in what form that should take.

Option 1

Option 1 would be for two Equalities representatives on the NEC, who would be elected to represent the Equalities Advisory Committee.  The Equalities Advisory Committee is elected by and from the BAME, (dis)Ability, LGBTQ+, Women’s & Youth network committees.  The two representatives would be elected with gender balance and with no more than one representative from any network.

It is proposed that the rules also be reviewed to ensure regular consultation between the NEC and the EAC. Additional members from the EAC or individual network committees should be invited to specific NEC meetings to comment or advise on relevant issues.  The NEC should also receive regular written reports from the EAC on any issues they wish to raise.

Under option 1, it is proposed that the current process for gender balance in the remainder of the individual members’ section should continue i.e. a certain number of seats at each election be designated for women only candidates, excluding those seats where the current male representative has indicated by the deadline that he is seeking re-election or it was an all-woman shortlist at the last NEC election.

Option 2

Option 2 retains the seat for the Youth network and creates 3 seats elected by and from each of the BAME, (dis)Ability and LGBTQ+ networks by reducing the number of regional seats for England from 9 to six.

There are two ways in which the number of regional seats for England could be reduced to six.

Option 2A: Merging the nine English regions into 3 (e.g. North, Midlands, South), enabling the election of two members per region with gender balance, or

Option 2B: Electing 6 members in a one member one vote election by and from individual members in England, with no more than one representative elected from any region.

The NEC is proposing that the representation for Scotland and Northern Ireland should be separated, thereby creating an additional seat in the individual members’ section.  This is included in options 1 and 2. 

The NEC proposes that an additional seat be created in this section to allow for representation by and from affiliates other than the retail societies.  This is in line with the motion submitted to Annual Conference 2021 and remitted to the NEC.

The Co-operatives UK seat – currently unfilled – will be merged into this section, thereby creating two seats that enable gender balance.

The current rules were originally drafted prior to devolution, the creation of Police & Crime Commissioners and elected mayors, and the increase in number and influence of co-operative councillors.

The NEC is therefore proposing four additional seats for elected representatives: one each for the Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary Groups and two to be elected by and from official Co-operative elected mayors, AMs, PCC and councillors (combined).

However, given their increased representation in this section, the NEC is also asking members to consider whether elected representatives should be ineligible to seek election in the individual members’ section.  The NEC hasn’t taken a view on this but is seeking members' views.

To ensure gender balance, the representatives of the Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary Groups should be a different gender to the corresponding member elected to represent Scotland and Wales in the individual members’ section.