This weekend, longstanding Labour & Co-operative Welsh Assembly member Huw Lewis announced that he will not be seeking re-election in May.

Responding to the news, Co-operative Party Deputy General Secretary Karen Wilkie commented:

“Huw Lewis has been a member of the Co-operative Party’s Assembly Group since the first election in 1999. There are nine Labour and Co-operative AMs, with Huw being the only one currently serving in the Cabinet.

In a range of ministerial portfolios including social justice, housing and education, Huw has worked tirelessly to promote and support co-op models. When not serving as a minister, he was chair of Co-operatives and Mutuals Wales and, in 2009, the Party was proud to support Huw as candidate for Welsh Labour Leader

The Co-operative Party will be standing fifteen candidates in the Assembly elections in May and looking forward to our largest ever group, but Huw Lewis will still be much missed.”