The NEC paid tribute to Ian Miller, who died recently.  Ian was elected to the NEC to represent the subscribing societies and affiliates, having been nominated by Scotmid.  You can read the Party’s tribute here.

The vacancy will be filled by a by-election shortly.

Faisal Rana was welcomed to his first meeting after being elected by the BAME Co-operators Council as the NEC Observer.

The NEC agreed the role and remit for the new Equalities Advisory Committee.  The EAC will liaise with the NEC and staff on behalf of the diversity networks and  will also enable the networks to work with each other.

The EAC will be made up of two members from each steering committee, plus two reserves.  The officers of each of the steering committees or councils will be contacted to ask for their representatives.

The NEC was also updated on the timetable to open nominations for remaining vacancies on the diversity networks’ steering committee.  Members of the networks will be notified in the new year of the vacancies, process and timetable, following a further appeal to all members to join.

At the meeting on 16 November, the NEC received a detailed report recommending changes that could be made to the Party’s policies and procedures in the context of the recent report of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Antisemitism in the Labour Party.

A paper on sexual harassment and safeguarding was also considered, and it was agreed that that the NEC would discuss this in detail at the following meeting on 28 November, including proposals for an independent process for dealing with complaints relating to protected characteristics.

You can read the Co-operative Party’s response to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission’s Report here.

At the meeting on 28 November the NEC discussed further the steps towards an independent disciplinary process and considered some of the factors to be determined in this, including its scope, costs, rule changes, date protection.  The NEC agreed to work towards a deadline of the end of March for implementation.

This will be brought back to a meeting in January.

Preet Kaur Gill MP gave her first report to the NEC following her election as Chair of the Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group.

We have continued to see strong recruitment, with numbers joining well above average. This is encouraging as autumn recruitment is usually driven by our presence at Labour Conference.

Recruitment continues to be delivered through our membership journey, using our campaign and policy activity to recruit new supporters and then convert them to members. The average time someone is a supporter before joining is just over a year (down from 18+ months).  Successful email join asks since August include Owning the Future Conference; Gordon Brown; US Election Results; the Party’s Anniversary; and Anneliese Dodds.

The Autumn/Winter issue of The Pioneer was posted to around 17,000 members and supporters; boosting the number of people renewing or re-joining. It also delivered a record increase in members paying at the Higher/Solidarity Rate, and our 100 and 1917 Clubs.

As well as further email asks to supporters scheduled for the rest of the year, we will have a renewed focus on encouraging existing members to ask their friends to join; as well as better information to branches about how they can sign up people in their area to our supporter list. We will also shortly be launching a recruitment campaign targeted at young supporters fronted by Marian Craig and Olivia Fletcher (Co-Chairs, Co-operative Party Youth Network).

The General Secretary reports to each meeting of the NEC on the work of the Party towards our strategic objectives – see below.  Being just a few weeks since the last meeting, this report is a little shorter than usual.

• Since the last NEC meeting, the Party has worked in partnership to draft, produce and launch the report of the West Midlands Co-operative Taskforce with Liam Byrne (Lab and Co-operative Metro Mayor Candidate).
• Following the announcement of Wales and Borders rail service being brought in-house, Co-operative MS Huw Irranca-Davies pressed for the operator to be mutualised at Ministers’ questions and work is underway on a proposed model.
• Discussions with Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Treasury team to agree a new joint piece of work to be announced at the Local Leadership, Local Action conference.
• Discussions with Co-operative Councillors Innovation Network about joint activity through 2021.
• Meetings with Labour frontbench members ahead of votes on a proposed Brexit deal following engagement with Co-operative Societies on their current concerns and issues.

• Since the last NEC meeting we have launched a new Food Justice Campaign tool (foodjusticefinder.com), with support from Labour LGA and Shadow Secretary of State, Steve Reed. It attracted national media coverage.
• After work with Party Officers, Parliamentary Group member Gareth Thomas asked a Prime Ministers Question on the topic of Free School Meals and the upcoming Christmas break.
• The Party Chair issued an online response to the EHRC report into the Labour Party.
• The Party worked with Shadow Secretary of State Kate Green MP on the opposition day debate on Free School Meals ahead of the half term holiday. This led to positive reinforcement of the Co-op Group’s decision to fund FSM in their academies from the despatch box and Kate Green writing to party members and supporters.
• Through Black History Month the Party held three Network online events, the first as part of the ‘Owning the Future conference’. The others were standalone online events on unconscious bias and to showcase BAME elected representatives in the Party. The Party has also produced Black History Month related video content.
• In relation to the second lockdown in England the Party invited Labour Shadow Health Minister Rosena Allin-Khan MP to the Parliamentary Group. Rosena spoke on the topic of Mental Health along with a representative from the charity Mind. Rosena will also now write to Party members and supporters on the topic.

• Since the last NEC the Party produced and delivered the week-long ‘Owning the Future Conference’. There will be a separate report on the conference to the next NEC meeting. The conference was a success, with thousands watching the event, tens of speakers and the Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Chancellor attending the event.
• Parliamentary Group member Rachel Maskell MP presented a Petition Bill on the issue of Nestle and their decisions on Fairtrade. This happened as the Fairtrade Foundation also delivered their petition to Nestle.
• Party Officers spoke at the Ethical Consumer Conference.
• The Party has taken part in Lead Fest within the Co-op Group, speaking about the Party and political activity with a Group of tomorrow’s Leaders within the co-operative.
• The Party produced a fringe at Welsh Labour online conference with the Wales Co-op Centre.
• Party officers worked with Seema Malhotra MP to produce a report on the topic of co-op development in London. This was launched online with thanks to London Co-op Party officers and NEC members.

In November the delayed all-member meeting of East of England Co-op happened and re-affirmed the membership of the Party

• The Party has begun to deliver a new training programme for potential and existing Co-op councillor candidates who are part the candidate programme.
• Selections are on-going for the Welsh Parliament elections in 2021, with nineteen Labour and Co-operative candidates selected to date, 16 of which are in Labour or Labour/Co-op held seats. This is already a higher number of candidates than for the last election, with some seats still to select.
• Met with the General Secretary of the Labour Party to discuss a range of issues including what co-operative campaigning actions and activity would be possible ahead of the 2021 elections.
• The Party held a hustings for members for the West Yorkshire Metro Mayor. The members gave nominations to Tracy Brabin, Susan Hinchcliffe and Hugh Goulbourne.