The Co-operative Group is jointly owned by over 6 million individual members and approximately 80 Independent Co-operative societies.
 
In May this year, at the Group AGM, members will be asked to vote for the Group to stop paying their subscriptions to the Co-op Party in order to break the link.
 
Like the trade union movement, the co-op movement is about championing a better way of doing business. Better for members and their communities. That means working across business, communities and politics to make change happen.
 
The Co-operative Party has launched its ‘Keep It Co-op’ campaign, with a website where Group members can pledge their support for keeping the link between the Group and the Party.
 
The aim is to retain the link between the Co-operative Group and the Co-operative Party, and to deepen and enhance it, so that the Group and its members benefit, as do society and our communities.
 
We believe the Co-operative Group will be making a historic mistake if it breaks the link. We need to stick together and keep the Co-operative Group true to its values to bring change for the better.
 
We would urge all members to rally round and support the 'Keep It Co-op' campaign. You can sign up at www.keepit.coop.