Will the Co-op party become the official opposition?

kinger101

Apparently, a number of Labour MPs are actually members of the "Co-operative Party". It's officially aligned with Labour, but is recognized as a separate entity by the Electoral Commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Party

Rather than new forming a breakaway party akin to the SDP, it seems many Labour MPs might join the Co-op party.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1647323/labour-mps-plan-to-launch-rebel-group-in-the-commons-to-defy-leftie-boss-jeremy-corbyn/

If the number of Co-op MPs exceeded the Labour MPs, they could become the official opposition.

michaels

Owen Smith who is apparently the candidate of the PLP appears to espouse policies miles to the left of any of the other 'mainstream' candidates who stood when JC was first elected. I can not see how any of them can claim with a straight face that they back him rather than JC based on his policy slate?

seven-day-weekend

kinger101 wrote: »

Apparently, a number of Labour MPs are actually members of the "Co-operative Party". It's officially aligned with Labour, but is recognized as a separate entity by the Electoral Commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Party

Rather than new forming a breakaway party akin to the SDP, it seems many Labour MPs might join the Co-op party.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1647323/labour-mps-plan-to-launch-rebel-group-in-the-commons-to-defy-leftie-boss-jeremy-corbyn/

If the number of Co-op MPs exceeded the Labour MPs, they could become the official opposition.

We had a Labour Co-op MP for years in our town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Turner,_Baron_Bilston

See also this list:
https://party.coop/lists/members-of-parliament/

kinger101

michaels wrote: »

Owen Smith who is apparently the candidate of the PLP appears to espouse policies miles to the left of any of the other 'mainstream' candidates who stood when JC was first elected. I can not see how any of them can claim with a straight face that they back him rather than JC based on his policy slate?

He's definitely to the left of most of the PLP, but he's (marginally) to the right of JC. OK, he said some idiotic stuff about ISIS, but he's backtracked on that now. But even triggering the election gains him points. If he does get it (which he won't) the real test would be whether he'd build policies based on consensus within an inclusive cabinet.

The reality is only another leftist stood any chance of toppling JC given the current party membership. The Co-op party route might put the PLP back in control, using a temporary separation rather than a SDP-style divorce.

Shakethedisease

kinger101 wrote: »

Apparently, a number of Labour MPs are actually members of the "Co-operative Party". It's officially aligned with Labour, but is recognized as a separate entity by the Electoral Commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Party

Rather than new forming a breakaway party akin to the SDP, it seems many Labour MPs might join the Co-op party.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1647323/labour-mps-plan-to-launch-rebel-group-in-the-commons-to-defy-leftie-boss-jeremy-corbyn/

If the number of Co-op MPs exceeded the Labour MPs, they could become the official opposition.

Well, since the Co-Op party run themselves as a 'co-operative' and don't actually have an official leader.. It would certainly be an interesting turn of events.

Then there's this.

It was suggested in reports today that there would be a drive to sign up MPs to the Co-Operative Party as a method for consolidating internal opposition against Mr Corbyn. Many MPs do already sit jointly as Co-Op/Labour members, but the idea that the smaller party could be used as a banner for an anti-Corbyn drive has been played down.
One senior source inside the Co-Op Party said it would not be easy for Labour MPs to become affiliated without due procedure. The Co-Op’s own executive committee favours neutrality when it comes to the Labour leadership.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/corbyn-labour-leadership-rebel-mps-a7202641.html


But it does sound like Labour MP's are already conceding that Corbyn will win in 5 weeks time.

[Deleted User]

There was talk not long ago of the "co-op" disassociating itself from the labour party, but it would be one way for them to go, the organisation is already in place

zagubov

Wasn't Ed Balls their most prominent MP? Not many of them survived the last election.

The last and current Scottish Labour Party leaders (Joanne and Kezia) are also Co-op Party members.

If the Co-op splits off, how would Labour fight back in Scotland?

LHW99

If the Co-op party become the official opposition I hope they'll run that better than they ran the bank

Masomnia

Is there some reason that the anti-Corbyn lot can't just hive themselves off as a separate faction and appoint a leader and thus become the official opposition? Ultimately if there is a Labour MP who commands a larger number of seats in the house than JC then surely there is some mechanism for them to be designated the opposition leader?

kinger101

Masomnia wrote: »

Is there some reason that the anti-Corbyn lot can't just hive themselves off as a separate faction and appoint a leader and thus become the official opposition? Ultimately if there is a Labour MP who commands a larger number of seats in the house than JC then surely there is some mechanism for them to be designated the opposition leader?

There's no mechanism within the Labour party, as the method of appointing the leader is determined by the NEC. The opposition has to be formed by an existing party, which is why the Co-op party could have been the route. But shaketd pointed out a few problems with this, not least the Co-op party not wanting to get involved in leadership disputes.

DiggerUK

It may come to pass, that the Coop MP's are joined by the Labour MP's, and become the opposition party in Parliament.

As the SNP have 54 MP's, there is also the possibility that they might end up as the opposition party, especially as they could grease the palms of many with a chance to sit on the opposition front bench. I have found no precedent of a coalition opposition in Parliament, but if a coalition can form a government, then what is there to prevent a coalition opposition.

The funding for the Coop MP's has been a way of sorting out a big financial problem for Labour. But as the Coop is not the financial powerhouse of yesteryear, it is not a sound basis for setting up as a major Parliamentary grouping.

Careerist Blairites will do whatever leads them to ermine, gongs and cash. That means getting elected again by a party with a lot of members throwing contributions in the hat, and union bureaucrats with money, and a similar hankering for ermine and gongs.

So I would expect that many of those PLP'ers who passed a vote of no confidence in Corbyn, to suddenly be enthused by the democratic decision of the leadership ballot, and declare their undying love for the result.

'The Cooperative Opposition' will not be headlining a newspaper near you any time soon..._