Guide to CLP Affiliations – Co-operative Party

Guide to CLP Affiliations

 

As part of the National Agreement between the Co-operative Party and the Labour Party, Co-operative Party Councils affiliate to every Constituency Labour Party (CLP) in their area on behalf of the membership of the wider co-operative movement.

This affiliation facilitates the Co-operative Party’s involvement in the Labour Party locally, allowing the Party to take part in the selection of candidates, support local campaigning and join in policy debates.

If the CLP has a General Committee (GC) or delegate structure, the Co-operative Party is also entitled to send up to five delegates. Although it is the Party Council that is affiliated to the CLP, generally the power to elect delegates is devolved to the relevant local branch.

If the CLP has an All Member Meeting (AMM) structure, then it will not have formal delegates from the Co-operative Party and other affiliates, however, the local Co-operative Party branch should still seek to become active within the CLP, including through supporting joint candidates in elections. You may still want to elect a 'delegate' or a 'CLP Liaison Officer' to promote the Party within the CLP.

Many CLPs also have a place on their Executive Committee (EC) for the Co-operative Party or a co-operative affiliates section, this happens in both GC and AMM structures.

Finally, the National Agreement also entitles the Co-operative Party to elect a representative to the Local Government Committee (LGC) where the relevant Party Council endorses candidates in the area to stand at elections as Labour and Co-operative. This position is available to all LGCs and is not related to the structures of the relevant CLPs.