We need a better response to violence and abuse against shop workers from the criminal justice system. But as more shops re-open this week, all of us must remember to treat shop workers with kindness.

We were pleased to see co-operative ideas that will help rebuild our capital cited in the Labour Manifesto for London.

It is a tragedy and disgrace that in the sixth richest country in the world, millions of people suffer daily food insecurity.

The Co-operative difference in policing means a focus on preventative measures, and police working in and with local communities.

As our high streets continue to lose bank branches at an alarming rate, we need action to protect Access to Cash and our local economies.

In the 6th richest nation in the world, it is nothing less than a horrific indictment of our country that, as the report reveals, nearly 6 million people experienced food poverty in the past six months.

In the run-up to the May elections, the Co-op Party will be hosting a number of phone banking sessions to help get co-operators across the country elected. I encourage everyone to join!

I was proud to mark International Trans Day of Visibility yesterday with what I believe was the first event in the long history of the Co-operative Party where a panel of all-transgender people could speak about what matters most to us.

In the year since lockdown began many people, particularly the most vulnerable, have been pushed into unsustainable debt. But this isn't a new problem, and more needs to be done to tackle our country's personal debt crisis.

This May, we have the opportunity to elect a record number of Co-operative candidates in my region and across the country. But we can only do that if we campaign for it.

Today, we mourn those we have lost to the pandemic, but we also recognise how we have endured.

From campaigns and events across our regions and nations, to our preparations for May's elections where almost 90% of the country will be able to vote for a Co-operative candidate, the last few months have highlighted the difference our Party and movement can make.

Women consistently face systemic barriers to taking part in politics. The result isn’t just that women are less likely to put themselves forward for office: they’re less likely to engage in crucial parts of the political process, like joining political parties.

As the pandemic has cruelly exacerbated existing inequalities and deepened divisions, our manifesto sets out the co-operative solutions for healing our capital through building common ground.

The values of the Fairtrade movement are at the heart of the co-operative movement and of the Co-operative Party in Wales. This Fairtrade Fortnight, it is more important than ever that we continue to champion these.

Myths and mistrust have led to a lower take-up in vaccines among the British Black community. While many of us are trying to fight this on the ground, the Government must do more to help.

This pandemic has exposed deep divisions in our country. Through co-operative values, we can rebuild a shared future, where people in every region and nation feel their voices are heard.

With this year's Fairtrade Fortnight focused on the actions we can take to halt and reverse the climate crisis, we as co-operators should take this time to reaffirm our commitment to climate and social justice around the world.

I joined the Co-operative Party over a decade ago. I would recommend anyone standing for Labour in this year's elections to do the same and stand as Labour & Co-op.