Unison backed Ed Miliband wins leadership race

Union favourite Ed Miliband has won the Labour leadership battle and will now lead the party in opposition.

Public service union Unison was quick to congratulate the leader, with Unison General Secretary, Dave Prentis, saying: “Congratulations to Ed on being elected leader of the Labour Party. Unison backed Ed Miliband because of the way he listened and understood the needs of ordinary working people. We look forward to working together to challenge the coalition government and its regressive cuts agenda.

“Under Ed’s leadership, Labour must offer an alternative economic strategy, promoting growth and recovery, together with fairness. This means protecting the poor, the sick and the vulnerable from the fall-out of this banker’s recession.

“Protecting public services, and defending them against sweeping privatisation, must be central to this vision of a fairer society.

However despite his strong union support Mr Miliband was quick to say that he will lead the party with his own mind - a remark aimed that those who have claimed that he will be controlled by the unions who give large amount of funding to the Labour Party.