Briefing:Being Labour & Co-operative From: benwest For attention of: Labour & Co-operative Councillors Published: 4th May 2019 Last updated: 5th May 2019 Printed: 4th October 2024 Other formats: Print Now you've been elected, you need to ensure you are correctly listed by your local authority as 'Labour & Co-operative'. Here's what you need to do. 1. Update your online profiles This is the easy bit. Make sure your Facebook Page, Twitter biography and any other social media profiles refer to you as ‘Labour & Co-operative’. For Twitter you can also write it so that it mentions the Twitter accounts of both parties, e.g. ‘@uklabour and @cooppartylocal’ On websites, you can refer to yourself as ‘Labour & Co-operative councillor for [ward]’, as well as linking to https://party.coop/about, so that visitors have the opportunity learn more about what that means. 2. Make sure your Council knows It will vary from council to council, but in most cases there will be a Head of Democratic Services / Member Services / Monitoring Officer who will be responsible for maintaining a record of the party affiliations of sitting councillors, and so if your status as a ‘Labour & Co-operative’ councillor is not currently reflected in official council records or publications, they should be your first point of contact. An example letter of what you might wish to include is below: Dear Monitoring Officer, I am writing as Labour & Co-operative Councillors have been elected to your authority. As you will be aware “Labour and Co-operative Party” is registered with the Electoral Commission by both parties, as a joint description used by candidates standing on behalf of both the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party. This is based on a long standing electoral agreement between the two parties. I am writing to seek assurances that this description is used by your council when describing Councillors who were elected on this basis. For example, that on your website and council documents when referring to a Councillor’s political party, the correct description is used “Labour & Co-operative” not just “Labour.” Thank you in advance for your co-operation in assuring accurate descriptions are used and if you need any further help or clarification then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 3. Let your local media know For any newly-elected or re-elected councillor, it’s never a bad idea to introduce yourself to any local media contacts who may later be helpful in publicising your local initiatives or campaigns. For Labour & Co-operative councillors, this can also be a great opportunity to mention that you have been elected as Labour & Co-operative, and to explain to them what that means, and why you chose to stand to represent both parties. If you have included any of our 12 ideas or other co-operative policies in your manifesto, this is your chance to mention that too. 4. Continue using the logo and branding During the campaign, you may have received a package from us containing Labour & Co-operative posters, stickers and other printed materials. Now that the campaign is over, feel free to continue using them as you go about regular canvassing and other party political activity. If you’d like more branded materials, you can order more here. And as during the campaign, we encourage you to also continue using the joint ‘Labour & Co-operative’ emblem on leaflets, outcards and other printed campaigning materials. You can find the logos on Labour’s Contact Creator software, as well as downloading them here As an elected councillor, there will be rules restricting how and where it is permitted or appropriate to use party political logos and designations. Be sure to familiarise yourself with these rules, and to bear them in mind! Action Points Update your own online social media profilesMake sure to include the designation 'Labour & co-operative' in any biographies or descriptions. Ensure you are listed correctly in council documentsYou should contact your council's relevant Officer if it is incorrect. Update local mediaTake the opportunity to introduce yourself to any local journalists and to explain what it means to be Labour & Co-operative. Use the brandingContinue using the joint Labour & Co-operative emblem in printed and online campaign materials, where appropriate. For more information For more information or if you have any questions, contact Emma Hoddinott