“Take a minute, sit down, and read this” – Douglas Alexander’s final state of the race memo

Here’s Douglas Alexander’s final state of the race memo  – which LabourList readers can read exclusively before anyone else.

Dear Friend,

This might sound strange, but whatever you are doing, I want you to take a minute, sit down, and read this:

That’s because it’s important, even momentarily, to realise just how big a moment we are all now part of. Our actions over the next 36 hours can make a huge difference to our country. By being part of Team Labour you really can help us elect a Labour government.

Because after five years of broken promises from David Cameron and George Osborne we are now just under 36 hours away from securing real change across the UK.

When polls open tomorrow, we have a chance to vote out this discredited coalition and make Ed Miliband our Prime Minister, leading a Labour government.

That’s 36 hours until we get a chance to reject David Cameron’s plan for another five years of extreme spending cuts, another five years of an economy that doesn’t work for working people, and another five years of uncertainty about the future of the NHS.

And for those of you, like me, who have been working day in, day out, for a Labour government for the past five years, it cannot come soon enough.

Because the truth is that despite their apparent confidence, David Cameron and George Osborne have lost the argument during this campaign: the Tories have no positive vision of how to make life better for working families up and down our country.

I believe it is that lack of vision that will cost the Conservatives this election tomorrow.

But despite their failures — and there have been many — as Labour, we cannot be complacent about the task that remains ahead of us over the next 36 hours.

You have made Labour’s election campaign one of the most energetic, exciting, and inspiring political campaigns that I have ever worked on. Together we have taken Labour’s message of change into communities in every town, village, and street in the country.

I know how hard you have worked, and I know how determined you and the fantastic team at Labour HQ have been to make our campaign such a success.

But I’m afraid our work is not yet done. Because while the time for press conferences, manifesto launches, and policy announcements is over, there is one final thing I have to ask of you on this campaign: help us get out our vote.

The clock is literally ticking; it’s only a matter of hours before polls close. I can tell you that we are within touching distance of electing a Labour government; and I need your help to make it happen.

Speak to your friends and family, drop in to your local Labour campaign office, knock on some doors, deliver some leaflets, and help us win this election.

My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who have been working to make the difference.

Remember how much is at stake. Remember what we are fighting for. Remember you can make a difference. Make calls. Make the case for Labour. Make history.

Thank you,

Douglas

Douglas Alexander