Midcounties AGM: Co-operative Party Update

Back view photo of cashier woman on workspace in supermarket shop. Looking aside.

Co-operative Party support during Covid-19

During the Covid-19 crisis, our work with the Society has continued, particularly in our actions to help secure recognition for retail workers as key workers and protection for the childcare, funeral and travel sectors. We have highlighted the work of the Society nationally, particularly on success on community led deliveries for vulnerable shoppers, on supporting food banks and the Frontline Hero support fund for childcare.

The Party meets regularly with Directors and Executives from Midcounties and other Societies to ensure that our work reflects the Society's priorities. These meetings have recently also included Zoom briefing calls with Parliamentarians. Societies are also represented on the Party's Board, including one member nominated by Midcounties.

Our work over the last year

The Party has had another successful year continuing to grow in size, visibility and impact. This would not have been possible without the continued support of Midcounties and our other subscribing Societies

Nationally we held major events including our Annual Conference in Glasgow; our 'Common Decency' policy conference. and our annual local government conference, 'Unleashing Community Power'.

‘Unleashed’ events took place around the UK including including the West Midlands, South East and South West, bringing together, members, supporters, councillors and MP’s with practitioners and co-ops including Midcounties.

Locally, events included a ‘Big Conversation’ on housing in Swindon featuring local housing co-operatives and Jim McMahon MP.

We also engaged in a wide-range of external events with the movement and others.  The Party's influence on behalf of the movement also continues to grow with our publications and other communications - our Facebook posts in 2019 were seen 1.35 million times .

In the 2019 snap General Election, 26 Labour and Co-operative MPs were elected.  These include Anneliese Dodds MP in Oxford East, who has since been appointed Shadow Chancellor.  We stood the largest number of Labour and Co-operative candidates ever in the Midcounties trading area, including Gloucester, Stroud, Forest of Dean, Witney and South Swindon. Our MPs have continued to work tirelessly on issues important to the sector including Westminster Hall debates, speeches, questions and round tables.

In the local government elections in 2019 we increased the number of Co-operative Councillors standing and elected - achieving more than double the number who were elected when the same seats were last contested.

The Party continued campaigning on Modern Slavery, Violence against Retail Workers and launched our campaign on Food Justice.  These campaigns have continued into 2020 alongside our 'Love it? List it?' campaign on protecting community assets.  The Party has worked closely with the Society and our campaigns and policies will continue to be inspired by Midcounties and our subscribing Co-operative Societies.