Who I’m backing for Labour leader: David Miliband

David Miliband has the vision

By Gareth Thomas

July 21 2010

Each day this week Co-operative News will be featuring views from political figures within the Movement on who they are backing to be the next leader of the Labour Party . . .

I am backing David Miliband because I believe he has the vision, imagination and experience to lead the Labour and Co-op movements back into power.

In my view he is the candidate who can lead the Labour Party, in alliance with the Co-op Party, to victory in a General Election that may come sooner than many people think.

David has an impressive track record of giving expression to our values in Government. David’s first job in Government was as Schools Minister, where he began the biggest rebuilding programme since the war, modernising hundreds of schools across the UK including many Co-op schools.

As Foreign Secretary he was hugely supportive of my work as Minister for Africa, maintaining pressure on Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF Party, while championing progress in tackling the poverty that still scars developing countries.

David is the candidate who I believe is best placed to challenge Tories and Liberals in the marginal seats.

He has a vision of renewal for the Labour Party which includes a return to our roots as organisers of change in our communities. In my view David is the candidate who best understands what is needed to make Britain successful in the future; from tackling child poverty and inequality through to creating a strong economy where we curb market excess.

The Tories were never serious with their pretend Co-op ‘movement’. We need a strong Labour Party if we are to get Co-op policies implemented by Government again.

Every leadership candidate has made a difference on Co-op issues, but being good on Co-op issues, while important, is not enough in my view to be the candidate who should be supported to lead the Labour Party. Can the Co-op Party work with David Miliband to champion a positive vision for local and national co-op agendas? Definitely!

In conclusion David has a first class mind, a determination to be inclusive and both the courage and the steel to take on the Tories.

• Gareth Thomas is Labour/Co-op MP for Harrow West and Chair of the Co-operative Party.

Category: Politics