David Miliband visit to support new Lincoln Labour MP candidate

David Miliband joined Lincoln Labour Party’s newly elected parliamentary candidate for the next general election, as she did her first round of campaigning.

Members of the Labour Party in Lincoln on Saturday selected Lucy Rigby as their new prospective parliamentary candidate.

Councillor Lucy Rigby fought off competition from Karen Lee, Rosanne Kirk and Frances Rehal for the role.

Rigby will resign from her post as the Audit Committee Chair for Islington City Council to focus on her campaign in Lincoln.

She said: “I am incredibly honoured to have been selected by the members of Lincoln Labour Party to stand as their prospective parliamentary candidate.

“Lincoln is a beautiful city with a proud heritage and I feel very privileged to have been chosen to stand for Labour here in the next general election.”

Gillian Merron was the Labour MP for Lincoln from 1997 to 2010, when Conservative Karl McCartney won the seat.

“But I know from speaking to people here in Lincoln that there is growing anger over the Tory-led government’s cuts which are hurting Lincoln’s families,” Rigby added.

“People are seeing cuts to tax credits, child benefit and their pensions being frozen at a time when tax is being cut for the richest, fuel bills and the price of petrol keep on rising.”

Miliband visit

On Wednesday, Rigby and Miliband, Labour MP for South Shields, visited the Birchwood ward to help Labour Roseanne Kirk on her campaign to be elected as the ward’s councillor.

Kirk was beaten by the current Conservative candidate, Eddie Strengiel, last May by just 21 votes.

The trio, starting at the Birchwood Centre, met with constituents to discuss their concerns and priorities for the area.

Miliband said: “We can’t have a Labour government without winning places like Lincoln. It’s very important to understand the significance of places like this.

“We also can’t win in places like Lincoln unless we have brilliant candidates. I know Lucy to be a fantastic campaigner, someone of real passion and heart as well as brains.

“I think that is a really good combination for any parliamentary candidate, and I wanted to come here today to support her.

“Also, if we are not strong in local government, we can’t be strong in national government. I think Labour’s strength in local government is going to be the basis on which we succeed nationally.

“People are skeptical about politics, but if we can say ‘look what the local council have done on housing or jobs’, then that will be a very powerful thing.”