This year has seen huge strides made by the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs and I am proud to have played my part as chairman.

This is a hugely important grouping in Parliament, particularly in the current climate with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet having turned both barrels on the Labour and trade union movement as they seek to blame ordinary people for their failings.

We are proud to be trade unionists and we are proud to stand up for the rights of trade union members across the country.

Undoubtedly, the Labour Party's greatest strength is its link with millions of people through the trade union movement.

It is this link which keeps us grounded in the real world and in politics that matter to ordinary people.

The trade union group is committed to maintaining and strengthening the links between the party and the wider movement and to furthering the rights of trade unionists.

At the party conference the group launched a Trade Union Charter which encouraged Labour MPs to support its broad aims. These all revolved around increasing the number of trade unionists in Parliament and furthering the rights of trade unionists up and down the country.

At that standing-room-only meeting I was joined by the general secretaries of the TUC, GMB and Unite, Frances O'Grady, Paul Kenny and Len McCluskey, who all offered their unconditional support.

Introducing a charter is a significant development within the group and it's received wide support from parliamentarians and trade unionists alike.

It has been enthusiastically welcomed by many colleagues and I'm pleased many are friends and comrades that I'd want next to me in the trenches. Several prospective parliamentary candidates have enquired about committing their support to the charter, as well as some colleagues from local authorities.

For the moment though the group is only a parliamentary one. But the first small steps can lead to big things.

Today we embark on our next step in the development of the Trade Union Group with a reception with invited members of Parliament, lords and trade unionists who will be discussing how to broaden the group.

This is a significant move for the Trade Union Group. Indicative of its importance, I will be joined by Ed Miliband and Frances O'Grady in addressing those present.

The basis of this discussion will form part of the new constitution - the first time it has be rewritten since the group's formation.

We are justifiably proud of our achievements to date and are keen to enshrine them constitutionally.

Opening the group up for the first time to all TUC-affiliated unions rather than just those affiliated to the Labour Party is a bold move. It is a move we feel is the right step for the body.

Bringing together the unions under one umbrella organisation to conduct co-ordinated and effective campaigning on trade union issues will be a big step forward. We are all fighting the same fight even if we may not all agree on every detail.

This has been a huge year for the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs. We have changed and renewed ourselves for the modern era.

But perhaps more importantly than that, widening our base truly embodies the spirit of the trade union motto, "Together we are stronger."

Ian Lavery is Labour MP for Wansbeck