Responding to Tuesday’s announcement by the Prime Minister that she will ask Parliament to approve a General Election on the 8th of June, Co-operative Party Chair Gareth Thomas MP said:

“During this General Election, the Co-operative Party will be working hard on our two critical objectives; to elect co-operators to Parliament and to make the case for a more co-operative Britain.

“Since the last General Election, Co-operative MPs have been busy defending and advancing the co-operative model, in Parliament and in their communities.  As a nation we face an uncertain future, so it is more important than ever that the co-operative movement has a strong voice in the rooms where decisions are made.

“We also know that our co-operative values and policy solutions have real potential to help meet some of the biggest challenges facing our country.  The Co-operative Party will take the opportunity this election affords to make the case for an economy and society where power and wealth are more equally shared, and where the co-operative sector is able to fulfil its full potential.”