Progress endorse David Miliband

With numerous figures associated with the New Labour pressure group working on his campaign, Progress have finally endorsed David Miliband’s leadership campaign today.

Declaring this to be “David Miliband’s moment”, September’s Progress magazine backs the shadow foreign secretary saying, “David Miliband has demonstrated an appeal which crosses the party and reaches beyond it. Labour should elect him leader.”

The editorial argues that he is “the grassroots’ choice”; says he is the person most willing to change our politics and political culture; and claims that he is the only candidate to have “shown the willingness to tackle the difficult politics posed by the deficit.”

The piece concludes: “While each of the candidates might well add something to a Labour shadow cabinet, only one of them has shown the willingness to tackle the difficult politics posed by the deficit; has offered an account of the party’s 13 years in office which celebrates its achievements while being honest about its missed opportunities; and has set forth a vision for Labour’s future which will expose the hollowness of the coalition’s claim to offer a new politics.”