DROVES of Camden Labour members are backing Ed Miliband in his bid to become the next leader of the Labour party. Along with Ken Livingstone, who is the area s favourite in the London Mayoral race, the younger Miliband brother has the support of many Camd

DROVES of Camden Labour members are backing Ed Miliband in his bid to become the next leader of the Labour party.

Along with Ken Livingstone, who is the area's favourite in the London Mayoral race, the younger Miliband brother has the support of many Camden councillors and activists who think he is the best candidate for the job.

The former Haverstock schoolboy is competing against older brother David, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott to become the next party leader, the result of which will be announced on September 25.

Last night he took to the stage in both Islington and Camden to win over more to the Ed M campaign.

Among his MP supporters are Karen Buck, Frank Dobson, former Camden group member and now Liverpool MP Luciana Berger, Islington MP Emily Thornberry and Tooting MP Sadiq Khan.

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Glenda Jackson has not yet made up her mind for who she would like to see succeed Gordon Brown.

Mr Dobson said: "Ed is the person who recognises the benefits that the Labour government brought but also acknowledges the things that went wrong such as the Iraq war.

"He is most likely to get us away from the things that were wrong. He does not believe in the privatisation of the NHS like his brother and I do think he has a good chance and the party and the country would be better off with him as a leader.

"Unlike either Ed or David I have the support of their mother who votes for me and sent me a congratulatory letter after the last election."

Many of Camden's councillors are also pledging their support for the younger Miliband, who was energy and climate change secretary in the former Labour government.

Kilburn councillor Mike Katz said: "He is basically the candidate who has the best analysis of how Labour needs to move forward.

"I have met both Milibands and I think Ed is a better communicator and has a better chance of reaching out to the huge number of voters we have lost.

"He will make a credible leader of the opposition and a credible Prime Minister in waiting. A lot of people I know in Camden Labour are voting for Ed - councillors and activists.

"He has struck the right balance between the need to make a break with the past and look forward for a fresh start and he is the credible choice to win back votes from the opposition. I think the result will come down to the second choice."

Camden Mayor Cllr Jonathan Simpson said: "Ed has put forward a good set of proposals of how Labour should renew itself. He is the best person that is able to bring the party together and enable us to fight the Lib Dem Conservative coalition.

"He also really understands the issues that affect Camden and I think a lot of people locally are also supporting Ed."

Regent's Park councillor Tulip Siddiq, who has worked for Ed Miliband since the May election, said: "The main thing is he seems to provide a fresh start and a break with the past.

"Local government is close to my heart and Ed Miliband thinks councillors should get a more prominent role in decision making.

"He has been very clear on the mistakes we have made which lots of politicians are not very good at, especially on the mistakes with Iraq.

"He has talked about winning back the people we lost to the Liberal Democrats who are now disgruntled and about giving more power to local government.

"He is very good at listening to people and green issues are really important to him as well. He has a really good chance of winning and the backing of the unions which is great."

But Somers Town councillor Roger Robinson is breaking with the mould and voting for Andy Burnham. He said: "He is a first class candidate and a great potential leader. I think he will be excellent so he is my first choice and Ed Miliband the second."

For a full interview with Ed Miliband see Thursday's Ham&High.