LABOUR is still “relevant” even in Essex and is “the party of working people”, according to the party’s former leader Ed Milliband.

Mr Milliband was in Colchester for a Labour fundraiser which was held at Colchester Institute.

He met with students and party faithful and reiterated Labour was still the party of the people.

Since his defeat in the General Election last year, the 46-year-old told the Gazette he had reacquainted himself with his family.

He said he has also been serving as a backbencher and trying to work in the House of Commons to honour the result of the referendum.

Mr Milliband said: “People voted for Brexit but what we can’t do is harm ourselves economically.”

He hoped Britain will stay in the single market rather than have a Hard Brexit - cutting all ties with the EU.

Mr Milliband insisted Labour was still relevant - even though UKIP’s new leader Paul Nuttall is targeting the working class vote.

Mr Milliband continued: “UKIP doesn’t offer answers to problems. Their leader wants to privatise the NHS.

“We have a big task. The message of Brexit is to bring the scale of change we want to see.

“People voted Brexit for many reasons. One of the reasons was that the country wasn’t working for them.

“ We are seeing in the USA with Donald Trump, a similar sense that the country is not working for them.”

Mr Milliband said he acknowledged the scale of the task.

He said: “There’s no such thing as a safe seat these days.

“We have to fight for every vote. People want to know that they are being listened to,their concerns are being taken seriously.

“Theresa May has just taken over. People are now having real questions about her. She promised change from David Cameron.”

Mr Milliband accused the Prime Minister of stealing his policies such as tackling higher paid bosses.

But he said she needed to do more.

“She’s a pale imitation (of me),” he continued.

“When I wanted to crack down on bosses pay, I thought the country was too unequal. Her cuts to tax credits makes the country less equal.”

Mr Miliband’s visit to Colchester came as Government figures revealed record migration to the UK of 650,000 in the year to June.

The net figure which accounts for those leaving the UK, was a near record of 335,000.

But Mr Milliband conceded his influence had waned since he stood down as party leader.

He said: “I’m in the happy position I don’t have to make policy any more. I’m merely a humble backbencher.”

And what of Labour’s leader Jeremy Corbyn - a man whose poll ratings are lower than Mr Miliband’s were and whom Mr Miliband called to stand down in June?

Mr Miliband said: “I think we have an agenda.

“Jeremy Corbyn has an agenda that’s going to meet the needs of working people.

“All of us have an obligation to take that out. That’s why I am here in Colchester. Labour is the party of working people. That’s the most important message and the people want a party on our side.”

Moments later Mr Miliband headed off for a meal cooked by students at the college.

It was a set menu of classic chicken, mushroom stroganoff and a lemon tart.

Martin Fordham, head of hospitality and food studies, said: “We are a centre of vocational excellence.

“We have 400 students mostly from within a 30 mile radius of Colchester. We previously won National College Restaurant of the Year.”

Colchester institute has two restaurants, the Balkerne Restaurant and the Colne Restaurant, which are open to the public.

They are staffed by students under the direction of chef lecturers and restaurant managers.

Christian Norman, director of faculty, business and services, said he was delighted to welcome Labour to enjoy the college’s facilities which he described as outstanding.

It followed recent visits by Conservative Will Quince MP and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell.

Tim Young, leader of the Labour group on Colchester Council,explained the event was to replace one which was to take place last June but was cancelled following the murder of MP Jo Cox.

Mr Young said Labour locally had quadrupled its membership since Mr Corbyn became the party’s leader in 2015, with numbers rising from 250 to 1,400.

He pointed out the party did well in local elections last year and added: “It shows the vibrancy of the Labour Party.”

But is Labour cooking up support among the workers of tomorrow?

Cameron Haythorpe is on the second year of his three year professional chef course.

He started cooking at school and wants to be a chef, possbily working abroad.

The 17-year-old said it was “very exciting” to cook for Mr Miliband but admitted when it came to politics “I don’t really understand anything.”

Ciara Acres, of Halstead, is on a one year course to become a receptionist with her sights set on working in a hotel. It seems the political parties all have more work to do. The 16-year-old admitted: “I’m not really into politics.”