Meg Hillier’s letter to Ed Miliband

Meg Hillier was one of the five members of the shadow cabinet to move on today, along with John Healey, John Denham, Shaun Woodward and Ann McKechin, with Meg leaving the shadow DECC post. She was replaced by Caroline Flint. Below is her letter to Ed Miliband, in which she pledges her support for his leadership from the back benches – as well as noting the huge task that faces the party.

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Dear Ed,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead for the opposition on energy and climate over the past year. It was a great honour to be entrusted with this work, which I know to be one of your passions.

As I join the backbenches, please be assured of my continuing loyalty and support for your leadership, and for the direction you want to take our party and our country.

We still have much to do to make sure that the UK meets its emissions reductions targets, that electricity market reform serves customers and businesses and we increase renewable energy sources. In the economy the Government is cutting too far, too fast. On climate change it is acting too slowly.

I wish my successor well in holding the Government to account on these vital issues, and in campaigning against the government’s policies.

My constituents in Hackney desperately need a Labour Government. I rededicate myself to campaigning on their behalf, speaking up for my community, and arguing the Labour case. I remain as convinced today as I was when I first joined our party of the need for a Labour government on the side of the many, not the few.

May I wish you every success in coming months. We all have a huge task ahead of us.

With best wishes,

Yours,

Meg Hillier MP