I am really proud to have served as the President of the Co-op’s National Members Council for the last 12 months.

It has been a year during which our Co-op has regained its self-confidence and is once again leading the way. In just the last few months the Co-op has pledged to use nothing but fairtrade cocoa in all brand products; offer job opportunities to the survivors of modern slavery and provide free funerals for all children under 18 – following the inspiring campaign by Carolyn Harris MP.

I believe this is just a taste of what is to come for the Co-op as we continue to build and renew for the future.

As co-operators our values have always extended beyond the shop front and we know that to build the kind of society we believe in, we need a voice in the rooms where decisions are made. 100 years ago representatives from hundreds of co-operative societies gathered in emergency session to vote overwhelmingly in favour of creating a co-operative party – to be that voice.

Today the Party’s work promoting co-operation in Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and in town halls up and down Britain is vital to ensuring co-operative businesses large and small, in all sectors of the economy, can be established and then grow.

This year – as the Party celebrates its centenary – I will once again proudly cast my vote at the Co-op’s AGM in favour of maintaining the link with the Party. I urge you to do the same, when the voting pack arrives by post or email in coming days.

There is so much work for us to do to build a fairer society and I know we will achieve more if we work together.