Poll joy makes Co-operative Party history

Following Thursday’s three by-elections in England and Wales – all won by Labour/Co-op candidates – there are now a record number of 31 Co-op-sponsored MPs at Westminster.

The victories for Andy Sawford in Corby, Lucy Powell in Manchester Central and Stephen Doughty in Alun Michael’s former Cardiff South & Penarth constituency ensured that the Co-op Party took its tally of MPs past the 30-mark for the first time ever.

A delighted Co-op Party General Secretary Karin Christiansen told the News: “It is fantastic news that these three great new MPs are joining the Co-operative Party’s Parliamentary Group. Co-operative candidates winning in all three by-elections demonstrate that there is appetite around the country and within the Labour movement to promote and deliver co-operative values and principles.

“This is a great set of results for the Party and the Corby result in particular highlights the dissatisfaction around the country for this Conservative led coalition’s programme for Government. I know these new Parliamentarians will be great advocates for co-operation; advocacy we know Britain’s public policy will benefit from enormously.”

Mr Sawford’s capture of the former Tory seat of Corby vacated in controversial circumstances by 2010 victor Louise Mensch represented Labour’s first gain from the Conservatives since the general election and, despite the reduced turnout compared to the national poll, the Labour/Co-op candidate had a comfortable majority of over 7,500.

The turn-out in the inner-city Manchester Central seat was even lower at just 18.16 per cent, but after the Bradford West by-election in March when Respect candidate George Galloway overturned a 6,000 Labour majority to claim a shock victory, there were no upsets this time around since Ms Powell held on to Labour’s 10,000 vote margin achieved by Tony Lloyd in 2010, who stood down to contest the Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner election.

Ms Powell, who narrowly failed to win the Manchester Withington seat in 2010, becomes the city’s first-ever woman MP. She commented: “I am honoured and thrilled to be elected. This is a big vote for Labour and a huge rejection of Tory-Lib Dem government.”

Stephen Doughty, the former Head of Oxfam in Wales, increased the Labour/Co-op share of the vote in Cardiff & South Penarth to 47.8% with 9,193 votes, despite a drop in turnout since 2010.