Talk:Co-operative Party

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Contents

[edit] Funding

How does funding work in relation to the Labour party? I'm curious because of the issues of funding sources that arise in your country from time to time.


[edit] 2004

I hope I maintained NPOV, especially over the Party's origins garryq 15:05, 11 Apr 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Noted co-op politicians

Gordon Brown. The Co-op party's website doesn't list Gordon Brown as one of their MPs and his wikipedia list of co-op politicians doesn't include him and his own entry doesn't mention the party. I'm going to erase his name from the list here. If anyone can find evidence that he ever was a co-op politician can they put his name back and add a mention of it at hgose articles too. ThanksA Geek Tragedy 17:08, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

Gordon is not a Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament, but he has been a key supporter and an individual member, and launched the Party's manifesto at the House of Commons in 2005. I am sure a reference to that can be found at mutuo or the party's websites. However, I think we're right to raise this - what makes a Co-op Party politician, i.e. one that figures on this list or at Category:UK Co-operative Party politicians? I think it should be those that have stood as official Lab Co-op candidates at any election, or peers accepted into the Parliamentary Group. Simply being a member of the Co-op Party should not qualify as it could apply to a majority of the PLP. But we should make exceptions for people of exceptional involvement, such as Ian Mikardo and Gordon Brown. Remember, Gareth Thomas was not a Lab Co-op MP when he first became chair of the Co-operative Party, so would have been in a similar position. Mtiedemann 21:09, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Socialist

Well, this bit: "the largest socialist party operating in the United Kingdom, after the Labour Party" - can we really call Labour socialist? I know it used to be. Chewyman

Chewyman, I agree, I am an American, but to me Labour is not communist, while there are some within it who appear to be communist. In my opinion Labour is a moderate left wing party (the equivilent to the Democrats in the USA), as opposed to Conservative/Tory being moderate right wing (equivilent to the Republicans in the USA). My question would be, is the Co-operative party communist? I would consider the Green Party to be communists (we have the green party here in the usa as well). I am, of course, opposed to communism and socialism in all their forms, being a moderate liberal like JFK (not a left wing extremist communist like Cindy Shehan (spelling)). --Brian 71.116.106.31 04:47, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

There's no "of course", Brian - Communism is a political philosophy like any other - you might well be one for all we know. As for Socialism, you will find there are millions of people across the world who proudly call themselves Socialists. Of course the Co-operative party is not Communist - otherwise it would call itself the Communist Party. Also - The Green Party aren't Communists in any form I've ever seen them, they're a left-leaning party with a focus on the environment. Oh and just to cap it all - even as a firm believer that the last Conservative government ruined this country, to compare them with the US Republicans is like comparing Kraft Slices with mature Stilton - they're another order of magnitude altogether. In Europe the GOP would not be called "Centre-" anything! Esquimo 20:31, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh - just looked up this Cindy Sheehan woman - also not a Communist. Not even close. She just doesn't fit neatly into US one party politics. She's anti-war is all. Is that all the dissent it takes for American right-wingers to call someone a Commie these days? She must thank her lucky stars she didn't ever forget to salute the flag - she'd have been shot at dawn! God I'm glad I live in a pluralist democracy! Good night...and good luck. Esquimo 20:37, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

It is more specific to call it Social democratic, so I am changing the text and link. It seems that some outside Europe get confused (with Marxism) when you describe social democracy as a movement within socialism. --Hroðulf (or Hrothulf) (Talk) 12:50, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

No. They are a socialist party. If those "outside Europe" - i.e. one particular country that doesn't believe in having more than one kind of politics - doesn't understand what the word really means (for example, by thinking it is a synonym for Communism) then that is their problem. Let them look it up look it up. On Wikipedia! There are 6 billion people in the world and the vast majority of them aren't Americans - wikipedia should be written for ALL of us. Esquimo 11:33, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

"Outside Europe" has nothing to do with the United States. Please read the articles on Socialism and Social democracy. Although socialism is not just Communism, most Marxist-Leninists and Trotskyites are socialists, and call themselves such. So are social democrats such as Gordon Brown and the Co-op Party, so it is helpful to be more specific. Also, please at least type the letters rv (short for revert) in your edit summary, or better see talk. Best --Hroðulf (or Hrothulf) (Talk) 11:25, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Relationship with Labor

Do "Co-Op Labor" members take the Labor whip as regularly as "Labor" members? Does each party have clearly differentiated policies, and if so, how does the coalition work? 58.178.107.39 04:55, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

LaboUr Co-op members sit as ordinary Labour MPs and ministers. All campaigning is done under the Labour Party's brand and leaders. Anyone outside of political geeks would never have even heard of the Co-operative Party except for occasionally seeing "The Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate" or similar wording on their ballot paper. Esquimo 23:13, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

I think the key questions are these; is it possible to be a member of the Co-operative Party without also being a a member of the Labour Party, and, if it is, are there actually any individuals who currently hold such membership? BTLizard (talk) 11:41, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

The rules of the Co-operative Party allow members to be members of no political party in addition to those who are members of the Labour Party. There are a significant number of senior activists who are not members of the Labour Party, particularly those who have come through from the retail societies, but there are no elected representatives who are not Labour Co-operative. Martín (saying/doing) 13:11, 30 March 2008 (UTC)
Indeed - you can be 'just' a Co-operator, a Co-operator and a Labour party member, but under no circumstances can you be a Co-operator whilst being a member of a party that competes with Labour. Additionally I understand it, the rules were changed at the last conference that members can now run as solely Co-operative Party candidates in local (council/municipal) elections were there are no Labour candidates running. However, I personally can't see why anyone would want to campaign on that ticket, as unfortunately the Co-op Party is almost completely unheard of in the UK - even in Labour circles - whilst the Labour 'brand' has widespread recognition and committed voters.--Free Socialist 21:25, 30 March 2008 (UTC)