ED MILIBAND will be the first Labour leader to speak at Durham Miners’ Gala in nearly a quarter of a century.

He confirmed yesterday that he will speak at this year’s Big Meeting in Durham City on Saturday July 14.

Last year he declined the traditional invitation to the party’s leader to address the gathering because of the presence of “militant’’ rail workers’ leader Bob Crow.

The last Labour leader to attend was Neil Kinnock 23 years ago in 1989.

His successors, John Smith, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown all stayed away from what is now the country’s biggest union event.

Durham Miners’ Association secretary Dave Hopper said yesterday: “His PA rang about an hour ago to say that he is on board.

“I’m quite happy. It is the natural place, in my opinion, for the Labour Party leader to be.

“Hopefully, it has ended a very barren period where a number of people thought that it was wrong to come here.

“I think he will do himself more good than harm by appearing here.”

Asked why he thought Mr Miliband’s successors had snubbed the event, Mr Hopper said: “One or two of them tried to change the part; change the politics. They thought that we were just old dinosaurs who did not mean anything.

“Contrary to most people’s expectations (The Gala) is more important now than it has ever been.

“Let’s hope he will tell us we are going to be the next government and we are going to fight these Tories and fights these attacks on the working class.”

A Labour spokesman said: “Ed Miliband has accepted the Durham Miners’ invitation to attend and speak at this year’s Miner’s Gala.

“The Big Meeting is one of the highlights of the Labour movement’s calendar and we look forward to welcoming Ed to Durham in the summer for what I’m sure will be an enjoyable day.”

Other speakers will include Labour MP Tom Watson, Shami Chakrabarti, the director of the civil rights organisation Liberty, and John Hendy QC, known as the “miners’ brief”.