FORMER foreign affairs secretary David Miliband will appear in Colchester before he leaves for the USA.

Mr Miliband plans to leave Parliament to head up the International Rescue Committee in New York, but before he leaves he will speak at a Labour Party fundraiser in Firstsite, in High Street.

The sold-out event takes place on Thursday, April 5 from 7pm.

Tim Young, leader of the Labour group in Colchester, said: “We are honoured to have someone with David Miliband's calibre attending the fundraiser.

“I think it shows the esteem Colchester is held in by the Labour Party.”

Mr Miliband, MP for South Shields, is expected to speak on the party’s future.

He visited the town during the party’s leadership contest in August, 2010, but was eventually defeated by brother Ed Miliband.