On 18 November the Co-operative Group issued a statement to media:

“Given the serious and wide-ranging nature of recent allegations, the new executive management team has started a fact-finding process to look into any inappropriate behaviour at The Co-operative Group or The Co-operative Bank and to take action as necessary.

"In addition, the Board of The Co-operative Group has launched a root and branch review of the democratic structure of the organisation. We need to modernise to ensure that the interests of all our 7m members are properly and directly represented in the oversight of our business activities."