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Miliband in Labour rallying call Miliband in Labour rallying call
(about 7 hours later)
The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, has called on his Labour colleagues to stop feeling sorry for themselves and offer the electorate real change. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on Labour colleagues to find the confidence to make their case afresh.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Miliband sets out his vision for how the party can turn its current fortunes around. Writing in the Guardian, he says New Labour won three elections by offering real change, and must do so again.
Mr Miliband says it should not be about "debating personalities" but about "making our case afresh" to the public. But Mr Miliband, who is seen as a potential successor to Gordon Brown, avoids mentioning the PM at all.
He writes: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election." His comments will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue over the summer.
'Future vision' It comes as Mr Brown has come under increased pressure following Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat to the SNP.
BBC News political correspondent James Landale says Mr Miliband's comments will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue to gather pace over the summer. 'Vision for the future'
Mr Miliband has been touted as a possible successor to Gordon Brown, whose position has come under increased pressure following Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat to the SNP. In his article, Mr Miliband warns: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election."
Our correspondent points out that Mr Miliband does not mention the prime minister at all in the entire article. But he says: "In the aftermath of Labour's third successive defeat at the 1959 election, a famous pamphlet asked the question: 'Must Labour lose?'
The foreign secretary writes: "In the aftermath of Labour's third successive defeat at the 1959 election, a famous pamphlet asked the question: 'Must Labour lose?'
"Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it."Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it.
Let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh David MilibandForeign SecretaryLet's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh David MilibandForeign Secretary
"We need to remember that there is little real sense among the public - or even among Tory MPs - of what the Conservatives stand for, or what they would do in power.""We need to remember that there is little real sense among the public - or even among Tory MPs - of what the Conservatives stand for, or what they would do in power."
He continues: "I agree with Jack Straw that we don't need a summer of introspection.He continues: "I agree with Jack Straw that we don't need a summer of introspection.
"The starting point is not debating personalities but winning the argument about our record, our vision for the future and how we achieve it.""The starting point is not debating personalities but winning the argument about our record, our vision for the future and how we achieve it."
'Radical phase''Radical phase'
He lists Labour's successes and failures, and dismisses Conservative leader David Cameron's claims of a "broken society".He lists Labour's successes and failures, and dismisses Conservative leader David Cameron's claims of a "broken society".
Mr Miliband notes that crime is down, lone parent employment and school standards are up, and that there are fewer asylum seekers.Mr Miliband notes that crime is down, lone parent employment and school standards are up, and that there are fewer asylum seekers.
He says Mr Cameron is a "likeable" but "empty" politician of the status quo.He says Mr Cameron is a "likeable" but "empty" politician of the status quo.
Setting out his vision for the future, Mr Miliband says "times demand a radical new phase".Setting out his vision for the future, Mr Miliband says "times demand a radical new phase".
He ends: "New Labour won three elections by offering real change, not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again.He ends: "New Labour won three elections by offering real change, not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again.
"So let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh.""So let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh."
'Forward-looking case'
Ex-Europe minister Denis MacShane welcomed the foreign secretary's comments, adding that "ministers and Labour MPs should follow Miliband's leadership" in turning their fire on the Tories.
He described Mr Miliband's article as "a sharp and welcome contrast to the self-indulgent, defeatist briefings by ministers in the last few days".
"David's succinct and forward-looking case for Labour, combined with his deconstruction of the emptiness and contradictions of Cameronism, is to be welcomed," he said.