No need for new Conservative Co-op Movement, says Dame Pauline

CO-OPERATIVES UK Chief Executive Pauline Green has urged members of the fledgling Conservative Co-operative Movement to join the mainstream UK Movement, rather than attempt to set up something...

CO-OPERATIVES UK Chief Executive Pauline Green has urged members of the fledgling Conservative Co-operative Movement to join the mainstream UK Movement, rather than attempt to set up something new. Dame Pauline spoke out as the CCM organised it's first event - a book launch to promote a new gui

CO-OPERATIVES UK Chief Executive Pauline Green has urged members of the fledgling Conservative Co-operative Movement to join the mainstream UK Movement, rather than attempt to set up something new.

Dame Pauline spoke out as the CCM organised it&#039s first event – a book launch to promote a new guide, Nuts and Bolts: How to Set Up a Food Co-op, written by self-styled "recovering lawyer" Amy Coyle.

Speakers at the London event included James Money-Kyrle of the Plunkett Foundation and the Village Retail Services Association and Jesse Norman, chairman of the CCM and Tory PPC for Hereford.

But Dame Pauline told Co-op News that the co-operative way of doing business is non-partisan and insisted there was no need for the proposed new organisation.

She said: "For 160 years, co-operative members in the UK have known that the co-operative business model is a fantastic third way between for-profit companies and state-owned business.

"Co-operators believe that, by working together, people can achieve so much more from their endeavours and I would welcome those in the Conservative Party who have so recently discovered our model of business into membership of Co-operatives UK."

*Further coverage in the next Co-op News available from Tuesday.

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