UK & World News
- 23 March 2013, 20:21
Miliband Offers Answer To 'Decade Of Decline'
Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of condemning the UK to a "decade of decline" by sticking to austerity plans.
In a speech, the Labour leader insisted public anger with the Coalition is growing in the wake of a no-change Budget - but he conceded that his party still has work to do to convince voters there is a real alternative.
Mr Miliband presented a list of policies that he claims would kick-start growth and make the economy fairer, including bank reform, infrastructure investment and a 10p tax rate.
He contrasted the platform he fleshed out with George Osborne's financial package this week.
"We are five years on from the financial crisis of 2008," he told a 'people's policy forum' in Birmingham, which is billed as representing political opinion from across the West Midlands.
"We are in the slowest recovery for 100 years. And it is you who are suffering. Wages are frozen. Prices are rising. Living standards falling.
"Yet the Chancellor offered no change in the Budget. He offered more of the same. Can you imagine another five years of this?
"Low growth. Living standards squeezed further. You paying the price. A lost decade Britain cannot afford. A decade of national decline."
Mr Miliband accused the Government of "shrugging their shoulders", saying ministers have "run out of ideas", and he urged voters to give him a chance to change the way the country is run.
"Over the last two and a half years since I became Labour leader, I have sought to understand why people left Labour," Mr Miliband said.
"From banking regulation to immigration to Iraq, I have been clear about what we got wrong. But as I listen to people around Britain I also know they are increasingly disappointed with this Government.
"People all over Britain have lost confidence in David Cameron's ability to turn Britain around. But let me be clear with you. I know that however discredited, divided and damaging this Government is, I will not assume that their unpopularity will mean people turn to Labour.
"Indeed, many people will believe that the failure of this Government means they should give up on politics altogether."
Mr Miliband said he cannot offer "overnight answers" or that things will be easy, but he pledged to seek an economic recovery "made by the many, not just a few at the top".
what do you think?
Bob Turnbull
Ah, just what we need for the chilly weather, more hot air. Come to think of it, maybe parliment is a source of renewable energy, solve London's heating bills
John Mechelen
I still remember when Liebore was in power.It was tax this,tax that.No way would i vote Liebore.A party for the work shy,immigrants.
Paul Martin
I'm no Labour supporter, well not for a long time, but i find the"Liebour", spelling very tedious, and a bit purile. It does you no credit, as i suspect you're not that dumb. Anyway, If Labour is the party for the work shy immigrants, then explain why the Tory government have left the borders open , and very soon , two other eastern block countries, will be allowed access to our pot of benefits. At the end of 2013 , the doors are open to Bulgaria and Romania, and yet the Tories will be in their fourth year in power. You can't blame that on Labour. Have you stopped paying tax, since the Tories came to power ??
tagliatellius
Labour/Conservative/Liberal, they all service the needs of the rich. They are only there to give an illusion of democracy. They are each a cheek of a three cheeked buttock as George Galloway so truly states.
davenlesley
Paul. The borders are still open because membership of the EU prevents us from closing them to 26 other countries in continental europe. It is as simple as that. UKIP for me
brian foster
And its UKIP for ME
pjbeckett
To continue with the 5 decades of decline that we have already had ? or is that an excuse for the failure of the next government ?
Paul Martin
The excuse for the failure of this one, is the usual Tory squeal about inheriting all the problems from Labour. If it wasn't for Blair, i might still support Labour, by the way. We need fresh players, as they all seem to be on the same poor team.
Paul Martin
The country is "managed" by a group of multi millionaire public school toffs..No wonder we are losing the battle. These capitalists will only look after themselves, as looking after the rest of us would be communism, in their eyes. Thatcherites, (the present government)are just capitalists without any conscience whatsoever. The worst examples of politicians. With them in power ,there is no way out of this mess. Upset the bankers, and they'll make the economy suffer, until they get someone in power who they accept.Hence , the idiots in charge , today. In saying that, i've got no idea what Milliband is, but he's not the answer. Labour has gone, and New Labour (Torys in cheaper suits) have taken over, giving us no choice. When John Smith died, the working mans hopes did too. Tony Blair did more damage to the Labour party than he did to the middle east! I don't really know what UKIP is all about, but it can't be any worse than the gang of self serving oafs we have now. Hobsons choice !
pjbeckett
I`d say you are a generation out in your reckoning, Labour have been useless since Clement Attlee retired and the Tories last breath of life went with Harold MacMillan
kevin
I agree merchant ?ankers
Martin Beadle
UKIP is just the acceptable face of racism mate. a vote for them is a vote for towing this country into the middle of the atlantic and sinking it. if u feel that unsure, your probably better off abstaining
stephen
paul we need people like beven the founder of the NHS
Jonathon Bentley
My prediction: 2015 ? Labour wins the next election with a small majority and so cancels the promised referendum for EU membership. Ed Miliband in his 1st week as PM, pronounces that the minimum wage will increase from £6.19 to £8.30 except in London where it will be £8.55. A rise of 35%, and he has already suggested this. With NI costs ,and Nest Pension, this will cost every employer an extra £100 per employee per week. Your local butcher, florist, greengrocer, hairdresser, shop assistant, travel agent, optician, farmer and supermarket etc, will be faced with an option to charge their customers the extra cost, sack the employee or simply go out of business. Bob Crow will demand 15% increase in train driver's wages being 3% for the past 5 years, and of course he will get it. This will be followed by the Teachers, Power Workers, Fuel Delivery Drivers, Nurses, Doctors, Airline staff, Bin Men, Street Cleaners, Firemen, Nursery Staff, and Bus Drivers etc, all demanding their 15%, and as soon as they say "Strike", Miliband will cave-in as he is funded by the Unions.
stephen
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
blue side
Sounds like the perfect world then Jonathon but you did forget to mention the fact that those in Parliament will have a pay rise and inflation proof pensions plus guaranteed jobs after leaving Parliament working for the EU (seems that is what most do)
Jonathon Bentley
My prediction cont?.. Inflation will rise to 10% in the 1st year with the Bank rate rising weekly. Mortgages will quadruple from 2.5% to over 10%, forcing many people to sell their homes with negative equity or they will be encouraged to borrow more to make up the shortfall. Of course they can never pay it back. Council rates will re-valued and rise by 15%, and Council rents by 8%. Private landlords will increase their rents by 10% because of the increase in rates and mortgage costs. Business Rates will also increase as they are an easy target. Businesses will be forced to dispose of employees plus increase their prices or move production abroad where labour costs are far cheaper. Its called "doing a Dyson" Labour reintroduces the fuel accelerator, putting 12p on the cost of a litre of fuel, making it unreasonable to use the car. Benefits will rise by 15% in real terms, in line with inflation and the number of benefits will rise again from 20 to over 50. With the economy failing fast, Miliband offers to sell the Falklands to Argentina for 20m pounds. then Gibraltar to Spain for 10m. Labour will attempt to curb the banks, so 50% of the Banks will move their HQ to Cologne or Paris, thus depriving the UK economy of 25bn pounds a year, never to return. Labour suggests we start an illegal war with Ireland to bury bad news on the economy. The following year, Bob Crow says his members need another 20% just to keep up with the cost of living followed by???????.. We're all doomed.
steve
The problem is none of them look at the long term. They only try to plaster over the cracks for their term in office, with no hind sight to future interest. They all offer promises of " if you vote us in next term, we will do such and such", like the current clowns are doing. If you boast that your going to do something, DO IT NOW, dont dangle the carrot before the donkey and promise it later, if were all dumb enough to vote for you again. Parasites!
blue side
steve I think we all agree that it is easy to promise when seeking election then for the opposition they can make all the criticism they like as they no it is not their decision and haven't we just seen a lot of that?
blue side
Cn this be true 'Mr Miliband will present a list of policies that he claims would kick-start growth and make the economy fairer, including bank reform, infrastructure investment and a 10p tax rate.' It has taken him long enough to make some proposals - will be interesting but do not hold your breath folks as to date we have seen 'Two Eds' have nothing to say
michael drouin
if he was not such a stupid arrogant idiot he could become a clown , (most people think he already is ) i recon UKIP and THE BNP can do a much better job ,i will probrably vote for one of these parties at the next election .any rate it wont be lieing , incompetent labour !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ABritMum
We should have followed Icelands lead....
sunshine
This man is more stupid than he looks. The stae of the UK is bad enough without this idiot completely destoying it
gengisken1227
What "austerity" is Miliband blathering about? UK public spending deficit is still one pound in every five, which means the UK national debt is still increasing and is expected to hit 85% of GDP. All that has happened is the "rate" of public spending increase has been reduced, NOT the actual amount. Miliband is as economically illiterate as Cameron. How did we deserve these two idiots?
blue side
gengis you have asked the million dollar question 'How did we deserve these two idiots?' Seems we have no old school leaders maybe being an MP is too good a job these days
Richard Crowther
As someone else on here has already said, we need similar thinking politicians like Bevan etc. If we had them now, we might not be in this so-called "Decade of Decline. While the millionaires rule, this is all you will have no matter what the politics...and as someone else said, Blair was the end of Labour, (Thatcher in disguise).
blue side
Richard the problem is if we had some of the millionaires running the show we 'might' get out of this mess - what we have are clowns. Strange you look at what Boris is doing for London and wonder just maybe he could spin things around on a national scale
philipsmith30
Mr Milliband has obviously a short term memory, if that clown Gordon Brown at not sold Britain's Gold reserves off at a knock down price, things would be better now. This Government is no great shakes, but Labour in power now would be even more of a disaster, more borrowing, higher interest rates to name a few. It is time for Governments to govern not let big business run the country. The banks are still giving big bonuses, the boss of the NHS in wales on £237,000 and yet money is short for treatments etc. Local Councils throwing money around like no tomorrow, Cardiff council chief executive on £267,000 where the hell are we going. If politicians don't get to grips soon with these problems then maybe its time for the public to revolt and say enough is enough.
Paul Martin
Philip, gold reserves are exactly that. Reserves. Money to be used in a crisis. Unlike the national treasures, like gas,oil,electric,coal,rail,water....and so on..all sold off by Thatcher. Short memory, lol. Look in the mirror.
Brian mckeown
His austerity plans will only affect the poorer paid.The Cameron cronies, bankers, CEOs will not suffer nor will the higher rate taxpayers. Tory tosh yet again and all they do is blame Brown, Agree with you Ed.
Neil C
"DELUDED"
Martin Peacock
Labour was in power from 1997 to 2010, 13 financially mis-managed years for the country, which resulted in the whole sorry mess being served up onto George Osborne's plate. Despite this I genuinely believe that Labour has the answer to a "decade of decline". If Labour gets in, it won't be a decade. It will be a century of decline.
shaun spencer
7:42am on 23/3/2013
We are desperatly trying to save money and have endured many cuts in this country,WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER we say determindly except those that are exempt from from cuts, the rich.in fact we will let them have more money.that should really get us out of this reccession.