Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, speaking in the Heywood and Middleton constituency following yesterday’s by-election, said:

“I want to start by thanking the people of Heywood and Middleton for making Liz McInnes the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton. Liz, over more than 30 years you have served the National Health Service tirelessly and I know that you will now do the same for the people of Heywood and Middleton in parliament. I want to congratulate you on the campaign you ran and for putting the NHS on the ballot paper.

“Now meanwhile in Clacton David Cameron lost by a landslide and he lost over half his vote share here. The Tories are a party losing in their own backyard and retreating from what they used to call their own frontline. The Tories are a party that cannot win a majority at the next general election.

“There are lessons for Labour in this result. We’ve seen once again the scale of disillusionment with Westminster politics, disillusionment that has been building for a long time and disillusionment that led people in some communities that used to vote Labour to choose UKIP in this by-election. I want to send a very direct message to those people who voted UKIP in this by-election and to those considering voting UKIP.

“First of all I know that you feel that politics for a long-time hasn’t listened to you and hasn’t delivered for you and I am determined that we listen and deliver.

“Secondly, I know you feel that this country doesn’t work for you and I am determined we show over the coming months that on jobs, housing and wages we will deliver.

“I know also that you have specific concerns about immigration. That is why I have changed our party’s approach on immigration since 2010.

“It is not prejudiced to worry about immigration.

“I’m not going to make false promises as the Tories have done, because that makes people even more cynical about politics. We have a real plan to ensure wages aren’t undercut, to ensure people earn their entitlements and to ensure that we have tough and fair controls and I am determined we show we can meet people’s concerns.

“Third, I know some people voted for UKIP in this by-election, but I do not believe that UKIP is a party that can represent the interests of working people.

“UKIP is a party that wants to cut taxes for the richest and privatise the NHS, they are a party more Tory than the Tories and we will set out that choice over the coming months.

“These results show the fight that we face over the next seven months, it is not just a fight between the Tories and Labour. It is a fight against disillusionment and despair about politics.

“I passionately believe that Labour can change this country and I am determined we show that in the fight over the next sevent months.

“This is a fight for the everyday working people of Britain.

“This is a fight for the next generation.

“This is a fight for the National Health Service.

“This is a fight against disillusionment and despair.

“This is a fight for the working people of Britain and this is a fight I am determined to win.”