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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Miliband in Labour rallying call | Miliband in Labour rallying call |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on Labour colleagues to find the confidence to make their case afresh. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on Labour colleagues to find the confidence to make their case afresh. |
| Writing in the Guardian, he says New Labour won three elections by offering real change, and must do so again. | Writing in the Guardian, he says New Labour won three elections by offering real change, and must do so again. |
| But Mr Miliband, who is seen as a potential successor to Gordon Brown, avoids mentioning the PM at all. | But Mr Miliband, who is seen as a potential successor to Gordon Brown, avoids mentioning the PM at all. |
| His comments will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue over the summer. | His comments will be seen by many people as setting out his stall should speculation about a new Labour leader continue over the summer. |
| However, Ex-Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson, now Britain's EU Trade Commissioner, said: "It would be odd if the government didn't have people who were in a position to make their mark, to make their contribution, in the way that David is doing." | |
| 'Vision for the future' | 'Vision for the future' |
| He said it would be more surprising if "a leading figure in the government, like the foreign secretary, didn't address himself to the challenges the government is facing". | |
| The comments come as Mr Brown faces increasing pressure following Labour's Glasgow East by-election defeat to the SNP. | |
| Let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh David MilibandForeign Secretary | |
| In his article, Mr Miliband warns: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election." | In his article, Mr Miliband warns: "The odds are against us, no question. But I still believe we can win the next election." |
| 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?' | 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?' |
| "Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it. | "Today, the temptation is similar fatalism. We must not yield to it. |
| "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' | '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. | 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". | 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. | "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. |