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Unite’s leaders urge 400,000 to vote for Ed Miliband

26 August 2010

With less than a week left before voting begins for the next Labour leader, the joint leaders of Unite have written to 400,000 members eligible to vote in the Labour leadership election urging them to support Ed Miliband.

Writing to union members who will be able to vote in the Labour leadership election, joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, state: "The election is about the future. It’s about who can drive the Labour party forward with a sense of purpose and direction to reconnect with the trade unionists and many ordinary people who used to vote Labour.

"It’s about standing up for the millions hit by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cuts. And it’s about saying together we can create the better, fairer society we all want.

"Ed Miliband is the candidate we believe can take on the Con-Dem coalition and do the job Labour needs."

ENDS

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315

Notes to editors:

Unite members who pay the political levy will be eligible to vote in the Labour leadership election. Voting begins on 1st September. The letter from the joint general secretaries was sent by e-mail to members (excluding Ireland) who pay the political levy.
 
The full letter to members reads as follows:

Dear member

You have a say in who becomes the new Labour leader. We’re urging you to support Ed Miliband.

The election is about the future. It’s about who can drive the Labour party forward with a sense of purpose and direction to reconnect with the trade unionists and many ordinary people who used to vote Labour. It’s about standing up for the millions hit by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cuts. And it’s about saying together we can create the better, fairer society we all want.

Ed Miliband is the candidate we believe can take on the Con-Dem coalition and do the job Labour needs.

He is a champion of social justice and equality. He understands the vital role of trade unionism and stands for traditional Labour values – our values as Unite. His vision for the future is positive building on his record of creating “green jobs” when in government.

On the key issues for Unite – decent public services, supporting manufacturing and delivering better, fairer rights at work – he commands respect.

This election is not about being well-meaning, naïve and behind the times. It is about creating a Labour party to take on the Con-Dems by being committed to building an economy on high quality, skilled jobs and saying flexibility in work should not mean low wages and long hours.

It’s about rebuilding the Labour party so once again it reflects the hopes, dreams and demands of millions of ordinary people. Demands for a fair society to tackle the gap between the rich and the poor and deliver great schools, hospitals and public services based on the understanding it’s the people who deliver them that make them great.

This is a very close election. To ensure Ed Miliband wins we need you to give him your support and your vote when the ballot opens on Wednesday 1 September.

Many thanks for your support as a Unite member.

Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, Unite joint general secretaries