Labour PPCs issue letter of endorsement for David Miliband

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Over one hundred Labour PPCs have issued an open letter declaring support for David Miliband. The former candidates write:

“We recognise that historically following a General Election loss our party has languished in opposition for a number of years, unable to effect the changes our country needed. We therefore feel strongly that we must elect a leader who can buck this trend, reconnect Labour with voters and lead us to victory at the next election.”

The full text and signatories are reproduced below:

“We are Labour Party members who stood as parliamentary candidates at the General Election in May. Like many other Labour candidates across the country, we were not elected in what was a painful defeat for our Party.”

“We recognise that historically following a General Election loss our party has languished in opposition for a number of years, unable to effect the changes our country needed. We therefore feel strongly that we must elect a leader who can buck this trend, reconnect Labour with voters and lead us to victory at the next election.”

“The Party has a choice between excellent candidates, all of whom have particular strengths. However we believe that it is David Miliband who is best placed to stand against David Cameron as a credible alternative Prime Minister at the next General Election. It is David Miliband who can win for Labour the length and breadth of our country, who can lead our party’s fight back against the coalition and who can lead our campaign to return a Labour government. That is why we enthusiastically support David as our next Labour Leader.”