Ed Miliband’s resignation as Labour leader is ‘a tragedy for the whole country’.
That was the view of defeated Colne Valley candidate Jane East, who warned: “These are desperate times for the UK.”
Ms East, who polled just under 20,000 votes for Labour, said Mr Miliband “would have been one of the finest, most honourable Prime Ministers we have ever had, tackling issues of social justice.”
She added: “It is no surprise he has stepped down. He is an honourable man and it is all deeply disappointing. I would have loved to have served with him.”
Colne Valley’s successful candidate, Conservative Jason McCartney, said he “felt for both Mr Miliband and Nick Clegg.”
“I listened with great sadness to news of both resignations,” he said. “As a human being I feel for them.”
Ms East said the SNP factor had a bearing on the election results and predicted a tide of growing nationalism – especially in England.
“People should remember that what unites us is stronger than what divides us and that we are better working together,” she said. “We could now a rise in English nationalism. These are desperate times for our country.”
Ms East would not comment on who might succeed Mr Miliband as Labour leader. “It’s far too soon to talk about that,” she said.
Mr McCartney said he has always got on well with Nick Clegg.
“I really feel for him,” he said. “He went into the coalition government in the best interests of the country and has resigned in the face of his party’s huge losses.
“I am just pleased he held on to his Sheffield seat.”
On Mr Miliband and the future of the Labour party he said: “It’s not my party. It’s for them to discuss what happens now.”
He agreed the SNP had been a factor. “It certainly came up lots of times on the doorstep,” he said. “Yorkshire people want a fair deal for Yorkshire.
“I now look forward to working with colleagues in the Huddersfield area where we are seeing the green shoots of recovery.”
