I am putting this letter from David Miliband on my blog as it’s important that as many Labour Party members as possible see it. Please do read David’s message and circulate it as widely as you possibly can.
David is saying:
“It’s a privilege and an honour to be nominated as a candidate for the leadership of the Party I love.
Yes I’d like your vote. But I’m not writing about that today – this is about something bigger.
I’m writing to ask you to join me on a journey to examine, redefine and rebuild our Party. Because to be frank – I need you.
Robin Cook was exactly right when he said that “Political parties do not achieve renewal by shuffling staff in their Leader’s office, but by changing the culture, priorities and direction of the organisation.”
And I believe that the change we need can only happen if each of us come together to rebuild our Party from the grassroots up.
So I come to you with a single and simple request. To ask you to join me in our campaign to rebuild our Party:
http://www.davidmiliband.net/RebuildOurParty/
For too long Labour has failed its members. We’ve hidden you away in the shadows – when you should’ve been the heart and soul of our movement.
This cannot and should not go on. By coming together I believe we can unite every part of our Party.
Together we’ll guarantee that members have a central role in Labour – and the first step towards that is an elected Party Chair.
We’ll fight the Tories tooth and nail as they try to gerrymander the political system including our link to the Unions. We’ll rebuild, with 1000 future leaders across the length and breadth of Britain trained in community organising, and we’ll double our membership.
We’ll reinforce the vital role that local elected representatives play by welcoming the Leader of Labour’s Councillors to the Shadow Cabinet. And we’ll make sure that Scotland and Wales have an active role in the NEC.
But I don’t want our Party to just be a reflection of my ideas – I want it to be a reflection of yours.
The first step in that conversation is joining me in our campaign to rebuild our Party:
http://www.davidmiliband.net/RebuildOurParty/
I know that the road ahead is difficult. But we need to change politics not just policy. Dialogue not deals is the key to our future.
Throughout my adult life, Labour has given me so much. It is truly humbling to be considered as Leader. But this campaign means more to me than that.
Win or lose I want this campaign to leave a lasting legacy that defines where our Party goes in the next few years – and that means putting you at the heart of our movement.
We cannot wait for someone else, somewhere else to fix our Party – it’s up to me and you. And we don’t have a moment to waste.
Please join our campaign to rebuild our Party now:
http://www.davidmiliband.net/RebuildOurParty/
I believe I have the values and vision to inspire our movement to dream of a better future. I believe that I have the character and judgement to turn those dreams into reality. I want Labour to win again. I believe we can.
And I want to do it, with you, together.
Thank you for your time.
David Miliband”
