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.