Kinnock endorsement boosts Ed Miliband
By politics.co.uk staff
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has backed former energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband for the Labour leadership.
Lord Kinnock, who narrowly lost the 1992 general election campaign, said he admired the “hugely energetic” Mr Miliband because of his leadership qualities.
He said the “politically bright” Mr Miliband was a “special kind of young potential leader” because of his ability to “inspire people” and described him as a “modern democratic socialist” who was motivated by putting his beliefs into practice.
“Vitally, absolutely vitally, he is comfortable among people of every kind, young and old, men and women, inside and outside the movement,” he said.
“We really do need a leader who can reach out for the rebuilding of the Labour party, but particularly to give coherence to our thinking.”
Ed Miliband’s brother David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, is the frontrunner in the contest but, with the result not due to be announced until September 25th, his campaign could yet falter.
“I rate David Miliband very highly and he is also a good guy,” Lord Kinnock added, saying he had supported him as the head of the policy unit at No 10 in New Labour’s early days.
“But in addition to his high intelligence I think the party needs leadership qualities, and Ed’s got more of them.”
Other contenders for the Labour leadership include former health secretary Andy Burnham, backbencher Diane Abbott and close Gordon Brown ally Ed Balls.
