As a member of the Cooperative party I’m really pleased that in Reading we are making this link more high profile:
Eight prospective Labour councillors in Reading and Wokingham, who are also members of the Co-operative Party are standing on a joint Labour and Co-operative Party ticket this year.
The Co-operative Party has existed for nearly 100 years, and is the political wing of the wider Co-operative movement (the shops, the banks, etc.) It stands joint candidates with the Labour Party, and there are for example 29 Labour and Co-operative MPs.
The candidates are, for Reading Council:
Duncan Bruce (Thames)
Rachael Chrisp (Park)
Richard Davies (Caversham)
Tony Jones (Redlands)
Liz Terry (Minster)
and for Wokingham Council:
Greg Bello (Bulmershe and Whitegates)
Matthew Dent (Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe)
Tim Jinkerson (Finchampstead North)
Will Cross, Chair of the Reading Co-operative Party, says “I’m really pleased that for the first time we have Labour and Co-operative candidates for the local elections, especially because 2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives. The Co-op movement’s key principles include self responsibility, self help, community involvement in decision-making, and Fair Trade, and our candidates have shown
real commitment to these values.”
Sarah King, Chair of Reading & District Labour Party, adds: “When we have a Conservative – Lib Dem Government imposing such significant cuts and unwanted competition to public services it is important for us
to consider what can be delivered through co-operation. I look forward to hearing from the Labour and Cooperative councillors about their ideas to improve council services based on co-operation, by involving
staff and those using services.”