CHARITY boss and former Foreign Secretary David Miliband has weighed into the race for Ilford North to back Labour’s Wes Streeting.

Mr Miliband quit UK politics in 2013 to become president of the International Rescue Committee in New York.

But this week the ex-Labour South Shields MP has returned to the virtual campaign trail and recorded a video in support of Mr Streeting.

He says: “I’ve known Wes Streeting for about 10 years.

“I think he’s a real star, but a star of a particular kind, because his feet are so firmly planted on the ground of Ilford North.

“Parliament needs people like Wes Streeting - with genuine local commitment, independent spirit that allows them to speak their mind on behalf of their constituents, but also a global vision of what’s right.

“Everyone knows the election in Ilford North is going to be close, so I hope you’ll support Wes Streeting so he can continue his tremendous work.”

Mr Miliband also praised Mr Streeting’s campaigns against the closure of King George Hospital’s A&E department in Goodmayes and cuts to Redbridge school budgets.

With just 589 votes in it in the 2015 General Election, the Labour and Conservative frontrunners are pulling out all the stops to see their party come out on top.

While Mr Streeting has also bagged the support of Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen, Government Ministers are making regular trips to the consituency in support of his Tory rival Lee Scott.

The Labour incumbent faces his Tory predecessor, Liberal Democrat Rich Clare, and independent Doris Osen on June 8, and said he is “very proud” to have bagged Mr Miliband's endorsement.

He added: “I greatly admire David Miliband for the international leadership he has shown on some of the biggest challenges facing our world.

“I know local residents think highly of him too, from his work on human rights in Sri Lanka as Foreign Secretary through to his leadership now on the crisis in Syria as President of the International Rescue Committee.  

“If I’m re-elected to Parliament on June 8, I will continue to provide a strong internationalist voice for Ilford North as our country charts its course through this turbulent and uncertain century.”