DAVID Morris Jones kindly congratulates me on my re-election (Penarth Times, May 20), but I'm not sure why he is surprised that I am referred to as Labour and Co-operative MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, since that is precisely what I am.

Nobody who has read any of my election literature can have missed the explicit reference to my "Labour and Co-operative" candidature.

And nobody who reads my regular column in the Penarth Times can be unaware of my passionate belief that the Co-operative ideal will prove to be the key political principle for the 21st Century.

I have been involved in promoting the modern application of co-operative principles - not least in the report I prepared for the Treasury three years ago, and most recently in winning the promise in the Budget to turn British Waterways into a sort of 'National Trust for the Waterways'.

In this Parliament, there are 28 MPs who have the right to describe themselves as "Labour and Co-operative" and I am proud to be one of them.

That right - recognised by the House authorities - arises because of each of us is selected as a candidate both by the Labour Party and by the Co-operative Party and as Mr Jones requests, I will explain the history.

The Co-operative Party was formed in 1917 and some ten years later, members of the Party agreed to enter into an agreement not to contest Parliamentary seats against the Labour Party. They rightly recognised that two parties with a passion for social justice and fairness could achieve more together than they could as competing entities.

I am very proud of the fact that in 1995, when the Labour Party re-wrote Clause 4 of the party's constitution, we put co-operation at the heart of the party's values.

The Co-operative Party produced a far-sighted and progressive manifesto for this year's General Election - and the Labour Party manifesto included many of our suggestions. Many of those ideas will be prominent as the Labour Party renews its forward programmes and wins back support from the public.

This is an honest and transparent partnership, set out clearly to the public long in advance of the election, and not a coalition cobbled together in the aftermath of an election.

Mr Jones is right to point out that the Labour Co-operative brand was not printed on the ballot paper - and that is because of an outrageous piece of incompetence by the Electoral Commission.

Just before the closure of nominations - my nomination forms had been completed and had to be totally re-done - the commission found out that an error in legal drafting meant that joint-party branding was not allowed.

They had previously confirmed that there was no change in the requirements for us.

The Electoral Commission has apologised and said specifically: "No-one, political parties included, had been previously aware of the problem and it would be unfair to criticise any party for not being aware of this issue".

That is why, unlike in previous elections, Labour and Co-operative candidates in May 2010 were unable to have the normal joint name and joint logo on the ballot paper. The Co-operative Party has demanded assurances from the Electoral Commission that it will urgently bring forward proposals to restore the previous arrangements.

It is an irritating bit of electoral small print, but as I said earlier, my Labour and Co-operative branding was clearly set out in my election material, as well as in my actions throughout my period as the MP for Cardiff South and Penarth.

I look forward to continuing to promote the Co-operative ideal in future and I hope that I will have widespread support in the constituency.

Alun Michael MP Cardiff South & Penarth