The Co-op Party is the political arm of the retail co-operative movement but it promotes all forms of co-operative and works closely with the Labour Party. Because of the agreement with Labour most members of the Co-op Party also belong to the Labour Party but this is not necessary. You cannot be a member of the Co-op Party if you belong to a policitical party other than Labour.
The Co-op Party is allowed to elect delegates to each of the three Labour Party Consituency Committees and as a result from time to time control of the Co-op Party can be a key issue. I am Chair of Newham Co-operative Party and have been a member for a good many years. Perhaps the fact that I am a self confessed anarchist and only interested in what the Co-op Party can do to promote co-operatives makes me a relatively safe choice for Chair.
We meet roughly every three months at Newham South Labour Club on the Barking Road. We usually have a speaker on some aspect of social enterprise or co-operative organisation. If you live in Newham and would like to become a member I would love to hear from you.