Southport needs the "positive force for change" that only Labour can bring, says its former leader, Ed Miliband.

The Doncaster MP was in town to launch Southport Labour's local election campaign and co-hosted the event with Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate here, Liz Savage.

Mr Miliband first singled out the party's parliamentary candidate for praise, commenting:

"I’m really keen to come and support Liz because she’s done an outstanding job... Liz has more than tripled the vote since 2010 in two elections... I think she’s done that with incredible energy, few resources and with a really important message about austerity, which has taken huge amounts of money out of the council budget, out of the NHS and the local hospital."

He highlighted the importance of the local elections which he made clear had an important role in helping to put Liz Savage into the constituency seat, a feat which would then help put Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 and so end austerity but he said that this would also benefit the town:

"I think it’s really important to talk not about us and our prospects but about what it means for the people of Southport. I think people have seen now seven years of austerity, they’ve seen what that has meant for cuts to services, they’ve seen what that has meant for the NHS...and to the police."

"I think people know that is, in the end, going to be the choice: do you want a Labour government or do you want a Conservative government? And do you want Labour people representing you in the council elections? If you want people who are going to represent you, want people who are going to actually be a strong voice in this area then Labour is the right choice."

Labour is standing for election in each of the town's seven wards and is hoping to create a small piece of political history by returning its first representatives to Sefton Council on May 3rd.

It currently has two councillors who crossed over from the Lib-Dems, Bill and Marianne Welsh, in Norwood and is looking for a clean sweep in the ward with the election of Mairhi Doyle MBE. The current councillor, Lib-Dem Dan Lewis, is believed to have decided not to stand for re-election in Norwood and is expected to run in Meols instead. After a very strong Labour vote there and in Kew ward during the general election, the local party is hoping to convert that into local election success.

While the ex-party leader expressed his delight at finding the local party so "buoyant", Liz Savage told those assembled it was a different story for their opponents who lacked the positivity and potential for change that Labour offers:

"Those that made the cuts are also the first to complain about the consequences of them. Crime; anti-social behaviour; tough decisions over services; decline; they like to make loud noises about such problems but stay resolutely silent about their role in them. The Lib-Dems and Tories also prefer to constantly squabble with Sefton instead of working with it for the good of our town."

"They offer no vision for Southport, only division for Southport. We want to see councillors who treat residents with respect, not shout down young mums. Who want to build bridges with our neighbours, not burn them. Who want to work with Sefton and the Liverpool City Region as the engine to get Southport moving again.

"Southport Labour's recent assistance to the Kew Park campaigners, for instance, helped secure a £30,000 guarantee from Sefton Council to save the park, despite bitter opposition by the local Liberal-Democrats. It is a straight choice - their continued problems for Southport, or, our vision of progress for Southport."

From left to right Labour's ward candidates are:

Janet Harrison - Meols. Sahar Dehghani-Berenji - Dukes. Janis Blackburne - Kew. Danny Burns - Birkdale. Mhairi Doyle MBE - Norwood. Frank Hanley - Ainsdale. Steve Jowett - Cambridge.

We're run by a Labour council who don't listen, make poor choices on spending and want to give themselves huge pay increases. Not that the alternative is great but..

[QUOTE=roving-eye;6628434]Southport needs the "positive force for change" that only Labour can bring, says its former leader, Ed Miliband.

Has Miliband got any idea where Southport is? By some weird political manoeuvring, Southport has a Labour Council - and if the Southport Labour councillors are unable to gain favourable gains for Southport - how can they be considered to have any 'force' at all?

Labour is the Majority on Sefton Council and the LibDems just whine about them. The only way we can make big changes in Southport is to vote Labour so our councillors can promote our cause better.

The Libdems have turned their backs on the council, they have signed their own resignations.

Originally Posted by said

Has Miliband got any idea where Southport is?

How do you think he got here?

Originally Posted by Seashells&sand

We're run by a Labour council who don't listen, make poor choices on spending and want to give themselves huge pay increases. Not that the alternative is great but..

....they do nothing but listen to the incessant whining of those who made the cuts then complain about the consequences of them, loathsome hypocrisy by the Tories and Lib-Dems... and what poor choices on spending? The huge pay increases is quite simply a lie! There is a public sector pay cap!!! Stop bullsh&tting people.

[QUOTE=said;6628477]

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Southport needs the "positive force for change" that only Labour can bring, says its former leader, Ed Miliband.

Has Miliband got any idea where Southport is? By some weird political manoeuvring, Southport has a Labour Council - and if the Southport Labour councillors are unable to gain favourable gains for Southport - how can they be considered to have any 'force' at all?

Given he's been here much more recently than you Marvin, I'd say yeah he does. P.S. How is Chester, seeing as how that is where you live?

Originally Posted by salus.populi

How do you think he got here?

The fellow that wrote his speech for him gave him a lift.

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

The fellow that wrote his speech for him gave him a lift.

Maybe so but unless he was blindfolded for the journey he'd surely know where he was.

That must explain why his statements a bit of a car crash.Red Ed ROFLMAO

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

The fellow that wrote his speech for him gave him a lift.