LABOUR leader Ed Miliband promised to ‘absolutely’ stand up for East Lancashire as he called on party activists to work to win Burnley and Pendle at an eve-of-poll rally in Colne.

He addressed an audience of 600 packing the town’s Muni Theatre to urge workers to knock on more doors, make more phone calls and deliver more leaflets.

Mr Miliband told them there was “a clear choice between the Tories’ failed plan for Britain and a better Labour plan that offers hope for you, your family and our country”.

It was the latest of several visits by Mr Miliband to East Lancashire in the last 18 months, including to Samlesbury, Darwen and Nelson.

After the rally, he was joined by Pendle candidate Azhar Ali and Burnley hopeful Julie Cooper.

Mr Miliband told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I am here because I care about the people of Pendle and East Lancashire and I care about what happens in this election.

“I’m focussed on raising the minimum wage to £8 an hour, abolishing the bedroom tax, banning exploitative zero hours contracts, rescuing the NHS, building a future for our young people.

“I would urge people in Pendle, if you want change and a country that will work for working people you need to vote Labour.”

Asked if he would remember East Lancashire and stand up for it’s people, Mr MIliband said “absolutely”.

He added: “If I’m Prime Minister, I’ll be thinking about the working people of this constituency.”

On the need to win Pendle. Burnley and Rossendale and Darwen, he said: “It’s important for the working people of these constituencies and the life they’re going to lead in the next five years.

“I believe we’ll put them first and the current government never will.”