First Labour affiliated organisation declares – and it’s for Huw

Wales Co-Op endorses Huw Lewis

“Labour’s only sister party,” as it has been cleverly described, is the largest affiliate organisation in the electoral college, carrying 10,000 votes. It is an undoubted boost for Lewis’ campaign, and he celebrated their backing at Kemi’s Cafe in Cardiff Bay, an example of a co-operative endeavour.

But this doesn’t mean that the Co-Op will cast all of its block votes for Huw Lewis. Rather, like the other affiliated organisations that make up a third of the electoral college, it will need to ballot its members and their votes will decide the proportions by which the Co-Op will divide its votes. The endorsement of the organisation, however, is a critical factor in influencing its members. And the same will go for the other affiliated organisations too.

However, Lewis said: “This endorsement means a huge amount to me and is a real boost for the campaign.  Over the weekend, I said it was time for the tittle tattle to be replaced by the battle of ideas – there is no greater generator of ideas in Welsh politics than the Co-operative Party.  Whether it be on housing, energy generation, agriculture, finance or football – co-operative values are underpinning some of the most successful enterprises in Wales.”

In a clear endorsement of Lewis’ ideas, Alun Michael MP – the Welsh rep on the Co-operative Party’s National Executive said: “People in the media still regard co-operative ideas as a bit odd and a bit challenging. Actually we’ve got a track record for over 150 years of success and the co-operative idea is very much the idea for the 21^st Century.  That is what Huw has put across. That is what will make this leadership election an exciting opportunity.  Indeed it is an opportunity to reach out to those who are perhaps reluctant to engage directly with the Labour Party, that the Co-operative message is one they can support and engage with. Young people understand that, Huw is putting that message across and I congratulate him on the way he has launched his campaign.”

Karen Wilkie, the Wales-based Deputy General Secretary of the Co-operative Party said, “Although the list of candidates to replace Rhodri is strong, only Huw has shown that he really understands co-operative values.  Crucially, he has also shown a commitment to implementing co-operative policies.  This recession has shown us the value of putting people before profit.  Now is the time for Labour to truly embrace the ideas being offered by its sister party – Huw has the ambition, intelligence and leadership skills to make that happen.”