Change pledge in Labour leadership race
Aug 30 2010 by Daniel Bentley, The Journal
DAVID Miliband will say today he wants to turn the Labour Party into a "living, breathing movement for change" in every community in the country.
At a Westminster rally to which 1,000 supporters are expected to travel from across the country, the shadow foreign secretary will seek to step up his Labour leadership bid as the contest enters its most crucial stage. The South Shields MP will dismiss Prime Minister David Cameron’s Big Society, insisting what is needed is the “good society” typified by the community organisers he has been fostering with cash raised for his campaign.
After months of hustings and debates, the leadership candidates are hoping to hit their stride this week as ballot papers are finally sent out to members and voting begins.
The winner will be named at the start of the Labour conference in Manchester towards the end of September.
Mr Miliband will say today: “When Cameron talks about the Big Society what he really means is do-it-yourself society.
“Thanks to a Labour government, people in this country have come to expect more. Cameron is offering them less. I don’t want a big society, I want a good society.”
That means “good schools, good hospitals, good policing, good estates, good Sure Start programmes, good housing, good childcare”, he will say.
“But most of all, the good society is built on people, decent people, inspiring people, like all of you in this hall today, good people doing good deeds.
“I want the Labour Party to be a living, breathing movement for change in every community up and down the country.”
Fellow leadership contenders Ed Balls and Andy Burnham expressed frustration that the contest was being portrayed in its final stages as a duel between the two Miliband brothers.
Mr Balls insisted in a letter to party members that the election was not a “two-horse race”.
Mr Burnham, the shadow health secretary, said: “There is a real danger for Labour that the frontrunners are beginning to make this race look like a battle between old and new Labour.
“That suits the media, but not the Labour Party. Party members want us to move beyond all that stale old debate.”
Yesterday, Ed Miliband said he would serve under his elder brother if David wins the leadership vote.
He added: “Our family is solid and our family will still be sitting down for the Sunday roast whatever the outcome.”
