Parliamentary Career
Gareth Thomas is Chair of the Co-operative Party and served as President of the 2003 Co-operative Congress. He was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development in 2003 and sponsored the Industrial and Provident Societies Act through Parliament. After the 29 June 2007 reshuffle he remained at International Development whilst also being part of the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, being appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Consumer Affairs. He had the responsibility of co-ordinating trade policy between the two departments. Following Gordon Brown's reshuffle of 3 October 2008, Thomas was promoted to Minister of State in both departments, taking on the portfolio of Trade, Investment and Consumer Affairs. In the June 2009 reshuffle DBERR was abolished, leaving Thomas to continue his role solely at International Development, with responsibility for Consumer Affairs passing to Kevin Brennan.
In May 2010 he was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Harrow West with an increased majority. In October 2010 he was appointed the Shadow Minister for Higher Education and Science, and has served as the Shadow Minister for Civil Society since October 2011.
Read more about this topic: Gareth Thomas (English Politician)
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