POLITICS AND THE CO-OP
SIR,—My attention has been drawn to an article by Charles Curran in your July 1 issue. I must point out that almost every point he raises in the first half of the article is in' correct. First of all, the Co-operative Party does not strike a bargain with its Socialist allies in a constituency. A Co-operative nominee must take his chance with nominees from trades unions and ward Labour parties at a constituency selection conference.
It is wrong, too, to say that from the moment the campaign begins we have the use of Co' operative shop windows and advertisement hoardings in the constituency for propaganda. A Co-operative candidate may apply to the Society's Management Committee for the use of specific show windows and hoardings, and this will only be granted in special eircunr stances; it, is certainly far from automatic. To suggest that Co-operative enterprises will put an MP on the salary list as a corn' mercial traveller or a journalist is just stupid, empty-headed thinking on the part of W. Curran. My constituency will be somewhat surprised to learn that it has been nursed and fed with a golden spoon, for the contribution which the Co-operative movement makes to a constituency Labour Party in which there is a Co-operative Labour candidate is strictlY limited, by agreement; and the propaganda of the Co-operative movement in all its forme; from Women's Guilds to Children's Leagues; from holiday tours to scholarships at weekend schools, is carried on in any constituency—not, only when there is a Labour MP with Co. operative backing, but also within areas where there are Conservative MPs.
Like my colleagues, I have no say in tilt selection of candidates for local council eke' tions; and certainly, as far as I am concerned' my leading supporters in the constituency arc not necessarily desirous of becoming coon' cillors.
Finally, it is nonsense to compare the Co' operative movement, which is a way of life, with Marks and Spencer's, and the fact tbsil Mr. Curran has mentioned this company, wiw, Imperial Chemicals and the Home an Colonial Stores, just goes to show the degree of ignorance he has concerning the reasons for a Co-operative movement, and the need to have Co-operative MPs to protect it from Pri vate monopolies and Conservative govern" ments.—Yours faithfully,
House of Commons, SW1
RON LEDO
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