A MANCHESTER councillor is one of 100 people who have been elected to serve on the new National Council of the Co-operative Group.
Galway man Jim King, Councillor for the Broughton ward within Salford City Council, is one of the chosen 100 who will now provide a “members voice” for the British firm – which is one of the leading consumer cooperative organisations in its sector.
Cllr King, who is also the founder and chair of the Salford City Radio station, told The Irish Post: “I’m really proud to be elected to serve on the National Council. I have been an active Co-operator for many years and believe in our values and principles of self-help, democracy, equity and solidarity and mutual support. “
He added: “The Co-op Group is back in profit after having to bail out its bank last year. However, unlike the other banks, which were bailed out by the tax payer, the Co-op Group relied on its own resources to bail out the Co-op Bank.”
The Co-operative Group, which runs over three thousands food stores, is also Britain’s largest funeral provider.
With its Co-operative Insurance and other business arms, it boasted a turnover of £10.8billion in 2014.
Cllr King is also the Vice Chair of Salford Credit Union – a small co-operative bank based in the city’s Liverpool Street area.
