Former South Shields MP David Miliband says omens of Brexit are ‘very dangerous’ for the North East as he supports Labour candidates on visit to Sunderland

David Miliband attended a Labour event at Silksworth Youth and Community Centre on Tunstall Village Rd on Friday, December 6 with Houghton and Sunderland South constituency candidate, Bridget Phillipson.

In one of five visits to seats across the North East, the former Foreign Secretary discussed why Sunderland has an ‘iconic place’ in the current political debate and the importance of next week's General Election.

In an interview after the event Mr Miliband, who left parliament in 2013, said the people should have the ‘final say’ on Brexit.

“The omens for the North East from Brexit are obviously very dangerous,” he said.

“People don't understand, generally, the way in which the modern economy is a network of supply chains and anything that you do to make it more expensive to be part of those supply chains is a risk.”

He continued: “It can't be undemocratic to say to people that they should have the final say. That is a very powerful thing.

“We’re not trying to take away from the vote in 2016, we're not saying we should revoke it. Now we know what the Brexit plan is, that it is completely different from what was proposed in 2016, we should give people the chance to decide whether they want to go ahead.”

He went on to praise Labour candidates in the North East who have “stood up for their principles” by backing a second referendum on a Brexit deal, saying they had his “admiration”.

Mr Miliband also spoke about his former constituency, ‘sunny’ South Shields, where he was MP for 12 years and where he and his family still own a home.

“This part of the world is very good to me and my family, and I feel very connected to it,” he said.

“I don't think the Tories are targeting South Shields, it’s a very strong Labour area.”

Although he added that “every vote counts”.

The full list of candidates in Houghton and Sunderland South is: Richard Bradley (Green), Paul Edgeworth (Liberal Democrats), Richard Elvin (UKIP), Christopher Howarth (Conservative), Bridget Phillipson (Labour), Kevin Yuill (Brexit Party).

The full list of candidates standing in South Shields is: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour), Sarah McKeown (Green), Oni Oviri (Conservative), William Shepherd (Liberal Democrat), Geoff Thompson (Independent) and Glenn Thompson (Brexit Party).