Claire McCarthy appointed Co-operative Party General Secretary

The Co-operative Party appointed Claire McCarthy its new General Secretary today. She takes over from the Co-operative Party’s first ever woman General Secretary Karin Christiansen and leaves her current role of Head of External and Political Affairs.

The Party’s chair, Gareth Thomas MP said: “Claire has played a key role in the Party’s activity over the last two years. She has led on much of our work with the wider co-operative movement, while the Party’s recent success in securing credit union services for the armed forces is but one example of the skill with which she has overseen the Party’s work with Co-operative MPs and Peers.

Before joining the Co-operative Party McCarthy worked for a number of charities, including 4Children and the Howard League of Penal Reform, Transport for London and the Labour Party press office. She was also a special adviser in the Foreign Office, Northern Ireland Office and Departments of Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government.

McCarthy takes over at a difficult time for the Co-operative Party, which nearly lost its funding from the Co-operative Group in May. A vote brought by the Group’s members was only passed by 55% at its annual general meeting in Manchester. The motion came after the Co-operative Group suffered heavy losses, mostly from its banking division.

The Co-operative Party has 24 MPs in parliament, down from 31 in the last parliament.