Delegates at the Co-operative Party’s annual party conference, taking place this weekend in Bristol, have voted to put the Party’s support behind the campaign for a public vote on whether or not the UK should leave the EU on the final terms agreed between the Government and the EU.

The Party also voted in favour of continued access to the EU Single Market and rejected the Government’s argument that no deal is better than a bad deal and approved a policy stating that if no agreement was reached with the EU by 29 March 2019 an extension to Article 50 should be sought.

Chair of the Co-operative Party, Gareth Thomas MP said:

“Members of the Co-operative Party have today voted to put the British people back at the heart of the Brexit process, by backing a people’s vote on the final Brexit deal.  Our Party is also been clear that no deal is not an option.

“As we work towards building a Britain where wealth and power are shared, it is vital that Brexit does not lead Britain down a path of greater inequality, insecurity and isolation.  Instead we need a Britain with co-operative values of democracy, equality and solidarity at its heart.  This is what is at stake.

“We call on the Prime Minister to listen to the growing number of people and organisations who are saying the people should be in the driving seat.”