Ed Miliband has officially kicked off his election campaign with a visit to Stratford this morning.

The head of the Labour Party climbed to the top of the Orbit at the Olympic Park and said it was an “amazing” site to launch his campaign ahead of the May 7 elections.

Addressing the crowd, he said: “We are here today to launch our campaign in the tightest general election for a generation. And what an amazing place to do it. The site of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The place where all of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - came together and showed the world what we can do. That incredible summer was our country at its best.”

Newham councillor and Labour party member, Ayesha Chowdhury, who attended the event said she was “honoured” to have welcomed Mr Miliband to the borough.

She added: “I’m really proud that the party chose Newham to launch the campaign and it was lovely to see members coming from all over the place to get together at the Olympic Park.

“Newham has been affected financially by the Conservatives so I’m looking forward to a Labour government.”

During his speech, Mr Miliband said his government would secure the future of the NHS, by “guaranteeing proper funding and stopping its privatisation”.

He also discussed putting controls on immigration and investing in the future of the younger generation.