McMahon: Ed can bring Labour together

Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date online: 02 September 2010

VOTING began yesterday for the new Labour leader — and the party’s local top man is backing Ed Miliband.

Oldham’s Labour leader, Councillor Jim McMahon, says the younger brother of the Miliband twins is the natural choice of centre-left supporters.

Former Cabinet ministers David and Ed Miliband are fighting each other along with three other candidates for the leadership. The result will be announced at the party conference in Manchester at the end of the month.

Councillor McMahon has chosen Ed, who was in Oldham on Saturday: “I believe Ed is the natural choice for those centre-left supporters of the party because he understands not only what we need to do to win an election, but importantly, what we need to do to bring social justice to this country I have also been pleased to see how much Ed values the important role of trade unions in protecting the rights of the workers.

“The right wing media will try and portray the unions as out-of-date trouble causers — but nothing could be further from the truth.

“The biggest threat to this country is a government out of touch and out of control. The unions give workers a voice. At times, employers and those in government might not like what they hear, but their role is vital.

“I have listened to the other candidates and believe Ed will bring the party together and hold the coalition government to account.”