David Miliband launches Labour leader bid
Updated on 12 May 2010
David Miliband becomes the first contender to declare his candidacy for the Labour leadership following Gordon Brown's resignation yesterday.
He said the task for the party would be to present itself again as "an alternative government".
Mr Miliband, who served as Foreign Secretary under the Brown administration, said: "We now have a contest to succeed Gordon as leader of the Labour Party.
"I will stand as a candidate. I do so with humility in face of the responsibility this post brings and passion for the causes and values that led me to join our party."
He committed to touring constituencies where Labour lost seats during his leadership bid to talk those who did not vote for the party as well as supporters.
Mr Miliband has emerged as an early frontrunner in the contest, and was frequently regarded as a possible challenger to Mr Brown in the event of a forced leadership contest.
As he made his address at Parliament's St Stephen's entrance, Mr Miliband was flanked by 15 MPs.
Among them, several former ministers including Jim Fitzpatrick, David Hanson and Phil Woolas.
There were also newly-elected Labour MPs Pamela Nash, Julie Elliot, Anas Sarwar and Valerie Vaz.
This morning he was backed by former home secretary Alan Johnson, who was also seen as a possible candidate.
David Miliband is likely to face strong competition from other former minister, including his brother Ed and former schools secretary Ed Balls.
The party's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, was also considered a contender but has said she will not run.
Former cabinet minister Yvette Cooper also said she would not run.
However Jon Cruddas, a left-of-centre MP, said Labour must look to its record in office to understand why it has lost millions of voters.
He said the party should be "under no illusion" about the extent of its defeat.
"We must not put ourselves down, but we cannot hide either. We have lost millions of voters, and a careful analysis of where they have gone is crucial," he said.
