Former foreign secretary David Miliband has said he is a contender to be the next leader of the Labour party.
He lost little time in declaring his intention to stand – his statement outside the House of Commons came less than 24 hours after Gordon Brown announced his resignation.
Miliband began by welcoming the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat government.
He also paid tribute to the British armed forces serving in Afghanistan.
"I will be standing with a deep sense of humility at the responsibility attached to the post, but also great, great passion for the values and beliefs that led me into the Labour Party 27 years ago," Miliband said.
He argued that the coalition provided a unique opportunity for Labour to take up the progressive agenda for economic and social change.
Yesterday Gordon Brown resigned as prime minister after nearly three years in 10 Downing St and a decade as chancellor.
Today Miliband said Brown was responsible for change in every constituency in the country and called on Labour to run an "open, warm and comradely" contest to replace him.
"I believe that this contest - and I dearly hope it will be a genuine, real contest with many candidates - can be a credit to the Labour Party," he said.
Miliband added that he will formally launch his bid for the leadership next week in his South Shields constituency.
He is expected to be challenged for Labour's leadership by Ed Balls, the former children's secretary.
Harriet Harman is acting leader, but has said she will not stand for the job.
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