The Co-operative Party is powered by the support of our thousands of members - join today and help us own the future. As a member you can:

• Join the co-operative movement and show your support for an economy that gives people a say and a stake.
• Vote in selections for Labour and Co-operative candidates in your area or get support to stand for election yourself.
• Take part in local, regional and online meetings, to elect officers, develop our campaigns and set our policy platform.
• Build our campaigns on issues from food justice to fair trade, community assets, fair tax and public ownership.
• Get involved in our member-led equalities networks for BAME, Disability, LGBTQ+, Women and Youth members.
• Receive a Co-operative Party membership card and regular updates, including copies of The Pioneer magazine.

The Co-operative Party is an independent political party, founded in 1917 by the UK's co-operative movement.

Since 1927, we've had an electoral agreement with the Labour Party, that means that we work together to select joint candidates who stand as Labour and Co-operative Party.

This unique relationship makes us sister parties, and allows people to be a member of both parties at the same time.

You don't have to be a member of the Labour Party to join us, but you can't belong to any other Party, with the exception of the SDLP in Northern Ireland.

Membership of the Co-operative Party is separate to your membership of a local co-op society.

We were founded by the UK's co-operative societies, and some of the biggest co-ops in the country continue to be affiliated to the Co-operative Party. This is similar to how the trade unions help found the Labour Party and are still affiliated today.

Just like your trade union membership doesn't make you an automatic member of the Labour Party; your co-op society membership doesn't make you an automatic member of the Co-operative Party.

As the political voice of the co-operative movement, we encourage all our members to join, trade and support co-ops whenever they can.

After we receive your application you should receive your membership card, welcome pack and details for your local party within two weeks.

You can attend local meetings as soon as you apply, and after three months you will be able to vote at meetings, selections and elections.

When you have been a member for nine months, you will be able to stand for election for positions within the Co-operative Party.

We have a variety of membership fees to make membership of the Party more accessible.

Our 2021 membership subscriptions are:

• Solidarity Rate (includes additional donation):
  £5.20 per month
• Standard Rate:
  £3.20 per month
• Reduced Income Rate (includes students):
  £2.20 per month
• Youth (14-19):
  £3 per year

We prefer members to pay by Direct Debit as it significantly reduces our costs, meaning more of your membership fee can be spent on important things like campaigning and elections.

However you can also click here and join us using your credit or debit card.

If you prefer to pay be cheque or don't want to join online, you can the Team on 020 7367 4151.

Any data that you provide to the Co-operative Party will be stored in keeping with our Privacy Notice.

We ask for your data such as your email address and postal address to keep in touch with you about our work.

We ask for information such as your date of birth as this allows us to verify your identity when you contact us about your membership.

You may also be asked to share other information, such as how you identify - this information is entirely voluntary and is used to facilitate your membership of our Equality Networks.

You can request that the Co-operative Party delete all or part of your personal information at any time.

Membership of the Co-operative Party is governed by the Party's Rule Book.

When joining the Co-operative Party, we will ask you to agree to the terms and conditions of membership, which includes the provisions within the Rule Book.

You can view these terms and conditions here.

UK or Irish citizens living outside the United Kingdom can still join the Co-operative Party.

Click here to become a member of Co-operative Party International.

If you have any other questions or want to find out more about the Party, our history and what we stand for please follow the links below:

• Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
• Read about our history, our representatives and our work today
• Read our Policy Platform for the 2019 UK Parliament Elections

If you still have questions, click here to get in touch with the Team and we'll do our best to help!