Calls for an alliance between the Labour and the Green Party have prompted the Co-op Party to defend its relationship with Labour.
The idea of Labour and the Greens joining forces is not new, but a recent article by Guardian columnist Owen Jones has restarted the debate. It prompted the Green Party to claim that the Co-operative Party “has not been able to present its own unique identity or policy whilst affiliated to Labour” and “has less influence over the Labour Party than the Green Party”.
But writing for Left Foot Forward, Co-operative Party general secretary Claire McCarthy said that the 2017 General Election manifesto of the Labour Party had a co-operative vein running through it, and pointed out that the Labour Party has committed to doubling the size of the co-operative economy.
“It is true that Co-operative Party has not historically had a high public profile, but visibility isn’t the same as influence,” she wrote, adding that the two parties shares common values and their relationship was set to remain strong.
Ms McCarthy argued that her party had real influence because of the 1927 agreement with Labour, which enables them to stand joint candidates at election.
Under the agreement, the Co-operative Party continues to be an independent political party, said Ms McCarthy, with its own National Executive Committee and policy agenda. But Co-op Party members can choose to be Labour Party members if they wish.
The two parties currently have 38 Labour/Co-op MPs in Westminster, along with Peers in the House of Lords, MSPs in Scotland, Assembly Members in Wales and hundreds of councillors across the country.
Some Green Party members are also planning to submit an emergency motion for discussion at their annual conference on 3-4 March. The motion, which rejects an affiliation to the Labour Party, highlights the key areas where Labour and Greens clash, particularly environmental issues, having a ratification referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal and supporting proportional representation.
