ABSTRACT
The new relationship with Labour-Co-operative politics impacted on the democratic structure of the Guild to an even greater extent than on the content of its policy, and in ways that harmed not only its radical identity but also its organizational vigour. As support for the Labour and Co-operative Parties became dominant, senior guildswomen entered into conflict with that section of the membership whose politics reflected the ideological diversity of the wider trading movement. Unable or unwilling to exclude or expel these women, the CC set out to discipline them by means of rule changes that shifted the balance of power in the organization from the periphery to the centre. In an attempt to create a loyal and politically reliable layer of officials, the freedom of branches to choose their own officials and delegates was overriden by the requirement that in order to qualify for such positions, members must support the Co-operative Party (later amended to include Labour), and have no connection with private trade. Despite these precautions, in the 1930s the leadership became increasingly paranoid about rival organizations, and Communist infiltration in particular. In 1936, the ‘political rule’ was supplemented with a long list of party and organizational affiliations which specifically disqualified members from Guild office.
