the co-operative party Annual Report 2013 | 1 table of contents Chair’s report 3 Organisation 4 Party membership 6 Results of listening to our members 8 2013 by month 12 National politics Westminster 14 National politics Scotland 18 National politics Wales 20 Local government elections 22 Policy, publications & campaigns 24 Membership & local party support 26 Party organisation and sustainability 29 Plans for 2014: a forward-looking Co-operative Party 30 Co-operative Party limited (reg. no. 30027R) 33 Board Report 2013 33 This annual report has been produced by the Co-operative Party Limited. Society registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Reg no: 30027. For information or more details, please contact The Co-operative Party Limited, Registered Office: 65 St John Street, London EC1M 4AN. T: 020 7367 4150, F: 020 7407 4476 Email:
[email protected], www.party.coop chair’s report 2013 saw the beginning of a challenging time for the co-operative movement – with the tribulations at the Co-operative Bank and Group hitting the headlines during the course of the year. The Co-operative Party was affected by this both directly and indirectly and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Party’s dedicated staff – many of whom only joined the organisation in September 2013. They worked exceptionally hard during some difficult times and must be commended for their abilities to respond to what was happening but also to ensure the important day-to-day work of the Party continued. The year was one for laying foundations for the future.