howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
courtesy of the "grauniad".
By Jove, I think he's got it! Like Eliza Doolittle in reverse, Ed Miliband today set aside his refined, north London prose and began to converse with the nation in a language a majority of them could understand. Labour's leader has at last found a voice.
His speech to London community activists will not receive universal acclaim. Any Labour member who does not feel a flutter of discomfort at the targeting of those at the bottom of the income scale for "not showing responsibility" and "shirking their duty to each other" is, frankly, not in the right political party. But as Sunday's newspaper headlines cruelly reminded him, it's not Miliband's job to comfort his own members. It's his job to reach out and connect with the wider electorate, and his demand for responsibility across the social scale will resonate.
We'll hear a lot in the comings hours about how today's speech forms part of a master plan, a strategy Labour's leader and advisers always had nestling in their back pockets. It's not. It's part a reaction to the recent negative media coverage, and part a response to the growing realisation that Miliband was failing to cut through.
"Initially, it was going to be one speech in a series", says an insider, "but it took on a much greater significance. Ed realised things couldn't continue as they were and he needed to start to provide some definition and clarity". Apparently the responsibility agenda, even the word itself, sits uneasily with Miliband. He will be at pains to stress over the coming weeks that his vision is of a society where people's responsibilities are to one another, rather than state or private sector interests. "He doesn't really like this sort of stuff", says a supporter, "but he realises now he has to do it".
That realisation is the best thing to happen to the Labour party and its leader since his election. Up until now Miliband has attempted to define himself through inaction. He would demonstrate he was politically astute by not rushing out a new policy prospectus. He would underline his pragmatism by not choosing between the liberal "progressive majority" or small-c "Blue Labour" agenda. He would show his integrity by shunning the cheap photo stunts much beloved by David Cameron when he was leader of the opposition.
The result, if not quite a car crash, has been that Miliband's leadership has stalled in the drive-way. In the absence of clarity on policy, political and personal direction, the electorate have been left bemused at what precisely they were supposed to be buying from Miliband, or indeed, who he was a salesman for. Having seen him announce to rapturous applause at his party conference that he would never condemn Ken Clarke for his liberal sentencing policy, they watched perplexed as eight months later he bayed for Clarke's blood over liberal sentencing policy.
Today was different. There was a new clarity of purpose in the speech that was reflected in the briefing that proceeded it. "Ed actively celebrates genuine wealth creators", said a source, "He welcomes the contribution of those who generate prosperity for society. But there are others who receive huge bonuses for contributing nothing to their company, their shareholders or the wider economy. Similarly, at the other end of the income ladder there are many hardworking people who play by the rules, and it's right they should be rewarded. But there are some who don't. Who dodge their responsibilities. Who cheat. And they shouldn't be rewarded".
There are still dangers. In the past a tough statement indicating movement along a particular political path would immediately be followed by a "recalibrating" one, pointing people in a diametrically opposed direction. But again, sources close to Miliband say that will not be happening this time and that instead he will build a consistent narrative.
Miliband also faces problems in how to brand his new initiative. Supporters are alarmed by the vision conjured in today's Guardian of their man "marching on to territory once occupied by Tony Blair". Even the ultra-Blairite shadow minister Liam Byrne has been making strenuous efforts to damp down speculation the response to Labour's policy consultation will be in the form of "New Labour 2.0".
But these are issues for another day. Miliband has been through the wringer. And frankly, he has no one to blame but himself. He has not imposed himself upon the leadership he fought so tenaciously to obtain, and it's a failure that has so far proved costly.
But in setting out his responsibility agenda, despite some personal misgivings, he is demonstrating the strength and courage to step up to the responsibilities of the position he holds. Today Miliband found a voice. Maybe it's not entirely his own voice. But it is a voice none the less.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#2
Here's a humourous take on Milibands speech
In the speech, Mr Miliband revealed that if the Labour Party harbour serious ambitions to govern, they will have to start treating the poor with the same contempt as the Conservatives.
"People react to blame," he insisted. "It's all very well saying the country's in a mess, but what people want to know is whose fault is it, and how will they be punished."
"Well, we're not taking the blame, so as long as taxi drivers are allowed to vote, we are going to have to point the finger at people on benefits."
Miliband went on to explain how pointing his finger at other people will be a central tenet of Labour's campaigning before the next election.
He went on, "I'm not suggesting that everyone who is on benefits is committing fraud, but if we can plant that seed of suspicion then it will be a positive step on the road back to government."
Prime Minister David Cameron has dismissed Mr Miliband's speech and accused him of being "hopelessly out of touch" with the nation's Joeys. "This country's arseholes aren't going to fall for Mr Miliband's words. When it comes to vilifying the poorest people in Britain, they want a party they can trust to deliver'' added Cameron.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)