Margaret Curran: Charismatic new leader with grit to see off Tories

Published on Saturday 25 September 2010 12:52

FIVE candidates, 56 hustings and four months later, the Labour Party finally has a new elected leader.

In Ed Miliband, we have an exciting, charismatic leader who has the gritty determination, experience and vision to lead Labour back to power. He may not have been the bookies' early favourite, but by running a campaign that reached out to the grassroots in the party while simultaneously attracting the support of new members - nearly 32,000 have joined us since the general election - Ed managed to garner a broad consensus of support behind his candidacy for Labour leader.

The election of Ed Miliband clearly indicates the will of the Labour Party to turn the page on the past and move on together to write a new chapter in our history. Having won three consecutive elections, we have just experienced our worst defeat in modern times - bar that of 1983 - and by placing our trust in Ed, we have delivered a very clear message that it is time for real change, and time for a fresh approach to Labour politics.

It is essential Ed settles into his role quickly, as he will have just over three weeks to get his Cabinet in place before the Comprehensive Spending Review that will be announced to parliament on the 20 October.

It has become popular to stand up and lay culpability of the coming cuts at the door of the Liberal Democrats that are all too at ease with propping up the coalition. However, we should make no mistake, this is a Tory coalition, with Tory cuts and it is the Tories that are calling the shots. Ed Miliband has the responsibility of scrutinising the heart of this coalition; David Cameron and George Osborne, two men intent on imposing cuts not out of economic necessity, but for reasons of political ideology.

Ed won the leadership contest by making clear that there is an alternative to the status quo, and by emphasising the importance of placing Labour values of equality and fairness back at the centre of what we do. It is now the job of the party to consolidate this will into action, and in doing so, expose the sheer dishonesty behind the Tory mantra that we are, apparently, "all in this together".

In opposition, we must be clear in our assertion that we were on the right side of the economic argument in 2008, when we stepped in to save the banks to stop a recession becoming a depression, and now we must show that we are on the right side of the argument again.

We need to lift the veil on the falsehoods of this so-called era of "progress austerity". Our leader must show there is a credible alternative to deeply unfair cuts to the public sector and welfare that will disproportionately affect the poorest in society, and our focus must be on the need to create jobs and protect growth, with spending restraints coming into effect when the recovery is fully secured.

Ed has won the debate in the party, but now he must turn to the country, and nowhere will the clarity of his argument be more important than in Scotland. Ed ran a strong campaign here and although there will be plenty in his in-tray from day one, a top priority must be the Scottish elections in 2011. Ed has a clear understanding of politics in Scotland, and he is aware of the need to expose the wasted years under the SNP, a party found completely wanting in the face of a global economic crisis. By working closely alongside Iain Gray, Ed Miliband's leadership will be pivotal in returning the party to power at Holyrood.

The Tories might think they have a divine right to rule, but we in the Labour Party understand that you have to earn the faith of the voters before they will entrust you with power.

After a comprehensive and constructive debate on our future, characterised throughout by a spirit of civilised camaraderie, the Labour Party is in good heart and, having made our decision, we are ready to take our party forward.

With Ed Miliband at the helm, the fight back starts now.

• Margaret Curran is Labour MP for Glasgow East