Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas was born in 1967 close to his Harrow constituency. He gained an economics degree from Aberystwyth then later studied history at King’s College, London and qualified as a teacher at Greenwich University. He was a councillor in Harrow for seven years, and Labour group whip. In his maiden speech to the House of Commons he stressed that he had lived in Harrow all his life, and urged action on crime, housing and health.
In May 2010 he was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Harrow West with an increased majority. He now serves as a Shadow Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for the third sector, as well as Deputy Shadow Minister for London.
Representing London on the Co-operative Party NEC, he has been Chair of the Party since 2000, is a member of the Fabian Society, and has written on social responsibility and a low-carbon economy.
His hobbies include running, rugby union and supporting Harrow Borough Football Club, Wealdstone Football Club and Arsenal Football Club.
Listed among: Members of Parliament, NEC Members
- Gareth Thomas introduces new co-operative housing legislation (4 Feb 2013)The Co-operative Party’s Chair Gareth Thomas MP introduced a piece of Private Members legislation in the House of Commons on Wednesday titled ‘The Housing Market Reform Bill’. Moving the Bill, Gareth stated that for far too many people, the housing market is not working. Not enough homes are being built at a price that is within reach [...]
- Gareth Thomas MP joins with sector to support development of community finance (5 Dec 2012)Gareth Thomas MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party and Shadow Charities Minister, has joined with the Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) in supporting the development of community finance. Here he outlines measures the Chancellor should consider in his Autumn Statement. Ahead of today’s Autumn Statement, I am joining with the CDFA in calling for the [...]
- ‘The Power Book’ launched at Labour Party Conference (25 Oct 2012)The Co-operative Party, along with SERA, the Local Government Information Unit and the Shadow DECC team, earlier this month launched ‘The Power Book’, a new pamphlet that looks at the potential of community and co-operatively owned energy. Writing in the introduction to the book, the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Caroline [...]
- Co-operative Party pays tribute to Malcolm Wicks MP (2 Oct 2012)It was announced over the weekend that Labour MP and former Minister Rt. Hon. Malcolm Wicks has passed away. Malcolm, Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 1992, was a great friend and member of the Co-operative Party. A Malcolm made his mark in his first term in Parliament, steering through the Carers Act as [...]
- Anna Turley selected for Redcar, Stephen Doughty in Cardiff (2 Aug 2012)The Co-operative Party is pleased to announce the selection of two new Labour & Co-operative Parliamentary candidates. Anna Turley, currently the co-ordinator of the Co-operative Councils Network, has been selected to fight the North East seat of Redcar, previously held by Mo Mowlam. Anna is the first Co-operative candidate at parliamentary level in the North [...]
- Gareth Thomas MP: An alternative Queen’s speech — for co-operatives (21 May 2012)Gareth Thomas MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party, gives his alternative to the Government’s programme for the coming year – one that promised nothing for co-operatives. This article first appeared in the Co-operative News No one, it seems, has had a good word to say for this year’s Queen’s Speech, yet it could have been so [...]
- Gareth Thomas MP: Our Party’s ideas are more vital than ever (9 Sep 2011)The Co-operative Party truly has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Our membership is increasing; our parliamentary representation remains very strong (29 Labour Co-operative MPs) and our policies are resonating – more than twenty five were included in the 2010 Labour manifesto. We even have a great new website. The reasons for this success [...]
- Vale David Taylor, a great Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament (2 Jan 2010)Gareth Thomas MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party, pays tribute to the late David Taylor My Parliamentary colleague David Taylor died suddenly and tragically of a heart attack on Boxing Day, having served as the Labour and Co-operative MP for Leicestershire North West for 12 years. In that time he developed a well deserved reputation [...]
- Gareth Thomas: A co-operative future for Labour (10 Sep 2010)On one level the Co-operative Party has had a good year. Despite difficult electoral circumstances, Labour’s sister party returned 28 MPs to the House of Commons on the 6th May. It secured important private members legislation to promote the co-operative business model and no fewer than 24 of our policy ideas were incorporated into the [...]
- Written Answers — International Development: Developing Countries: Poliomyelitis (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU bodies about funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative; and if she will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Energy and Climate Change: Ict (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Treasury: Ict (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
- Written Answers — International Development: Ict (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from her Department and non-departmental bodies in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Education: Ict (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Northern Ireland: Ict (21 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from non-departmental bodies in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Business, Innovation and Skills: Community Development Finance Institutions (20 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential for community development finance institutions to (a) lend to businesses and charities and (b) create jobs; and if he will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Health: Hospitals: Greater London (20 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled (a) by each London hospital trust and (b) in total in London in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
- Written Answers — Energy and Climate Change: Renewable Energy (20 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of incentives that will exist for the purchase of renewable energy from independent generators when the renewables obligation ends.
- Written Answers — Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (20 May 2013)Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited four hours or more in accident and emergency departments in (a) each London hospital trust and (b) all such trusts in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
