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Labour not party for benefit cheats - Ed Miliband Labour not party for benefit cheats - Ed Miliband
(40 minutes later)
Labour is seen by many as the party of those "ripping off our society" by abusing the benefits system, leader Ed Miliband has said.Labour is seen by many as the party of those "ripping off our society" by abusing the benefits system, leader Ed Miliband has said.
In a speech in London, he said Labour must become a party that "rewards contribution, not worklessness".In a speech in London, he said Labour must become a party that "rewards contribution, not worklessness".
He suggested that people who work or volunteer should get priority on council house waiting lists.He suggested that people who work or volunteer should get priority on council house waiting lists.
Mr Miliband also said his party had done too little to curb excessive executive pay at banks and other firms.Mr Miliband also said his party had done too little to curb excessive executive pay at banks and other firms.
The speech comes the day after his brother David called for the Labour Party to unite behind its leader, following press stories of a feud between the two.The speech comes the day after his brother David called for the Labour Party to unite behind its leader, following press stories of a feud between the two.
Other senior figures have also called for party unity, including shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who hit back at leaked memos suggesting he had had a role in moves to oust Tony Blair as prime minister.Other senior figures have also called for party unity, including shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who hit back at leaked memos suggesting he had had a role in moves to oust Tony Blair as prime minister.
Writing in the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror newspaper, Mr Balls said: "Over recent days we have seen my private papers taken and given to the Daily Telegraph. Writing in the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror newspaper, Mr Balls said: "The Tories and their supporters are misrepresenting their contents and using them for a very clear political motive: to attack me, Ed Miliband and the Labour Party, and try to promote a Tory lie that the global recession, and the deficit we now have, are all Labour's fault."
"The Tories and their supporters are misrepresenting their contents and using them for a very clear political motive: to attack me, Ed Miliband and the Labour Party, and try to promote a Tory lie that the global recession, and the deficit we now have, are all Labour's fault."
Mr Balls also dismissed claims there was "bad blood" between him and Ed Miliband Mr Balls, dating back to their time as aides to Gordon Brown at the Treasury.
'Shirking duty''Shirking duty'
In his speech, Ed Miliband said a future Labour government would require companies to publish the pay gap between their boardrooms and the average earnings of their workers. In his speech, Ed Miliband said: "For too many people at the last election, we were seen as the party that represented these two types of people - those at the top and the bottom who were not showing responsibility and were shirking their duty to each other.
The criticism of Ed Miliband is not just focused on his leadership qualities, but also on the sense that he has failed to give Labour a sense of direction.The criticism of Ed Miliband is not just focused on his leadership qualities, but also on the sense that he has failed to give Labour a sense of direction.
His speech today is part of an attempt to answer that charge.His speech today is part of an attempt to answer that charge.
His argument is that Labour in the past has been seen as simply being on the side of the poor and giving free rein to the rich.His argument is that Labour in the past has been seen as simply being on the side of the poor and giving free rein to the rich.
Mr Miliband wants to put his party on the side of the "squeezed middle" - those who pay their taxes, don't rely on state help and contribute to society through supporting voluntary bodies and joining community organisations.Mr Miliband wants to put his party on the side of the "squeezed middle" - those who pay their taxes, don't rely on state help and contribute to society through supporting voluntary bodies and joining community organisations.
Hence his call for a crackdown on top pay and more help with council housing for those who don't just rely on benefits.Hence his call for a crackdown on top pay and more help with council housing for those who don't just rely on benefits.
It's perhaps unlikely to end the criticism of Mr Miliband's leadership, but it shows he's aware of the need to give his party a sense of purpose.It's perhaps unlikely to end the criticism of Mr Miliband's leadership, but it shows he's aware of the need to give his party a sense of purpose.
He also said welfare must reward people who make a contribution to society, by arguing that, for instance, people who work or volunteer should get priority on council house waiting lists.
Mr Miliband said: "For too many people at the last election, we were seen as the party that represented these two types of people - those at the top and the bottom who were not showing responsibility and were shirking their duty to each other.
"From bankers who caused the global financial crisis to some of those on benefits who were abusing the system because they could work - but didn't."From bankers who caused the global financial crisis to some of those on benefits who were abusing the system because they could work - but didn't.
"Labour - a party founded by hard-working people for hard-working people - was seen by some, however unfairly, as the party of those ripping off our society.""Labour - a party founded by hard-working people for hard-working people - was seen by some, however unfairly, as the party of those ripping off our society."
Mr Miliband said the previous Labour government had not done enough "to change the ethic we inherited from the 1980s - 'the take what you can culture' of those Conservative governments".
"We must be once again the party of the grafters," he said.
He also said welfare must reward people who make a contribution to society, by arguing that, for instance, those who work or volunteer should get priority on council house waiting lists.
Mr Miliband said such a practice was already in operation in Manchester and "encourages the kind of responsible behaviour which makes our communities stronger".
But he insisted he wanted to offer rewards, not punishments to encourage people to "do the right thing", and contrasted his approach with that of the Conservatives, whom he said were "demonising" those on benefits.
Mr Miliband also said a future Labour government would require companies to publish the pay gap between their boardrooms and the average earnings of their workers.
But he said he would not seek to impose a maximum ratio between the highest and lowest earners.
He also said he would consider whether new rules should be introduced to require all firms to have an employee on their boards to oversee pay decisions.
'Redefine fairness'
After a weekend of sniping in newspapers from unnamed critics, Mr Miliband's speech is being seen as an attempt to reassert his leadership and convince sceptics he has the right strategy to return his party to power.After a weekend of sniping in newspapers from unnamed critics, Mr Miliband's speech is being seen as an attempt to reassert his leadership and convince sceptics he has the right strategy to return his party to power.
Backbench Labour MP Frank Field said it was "difficult to overestimate how significant today's speech is".Backbench Labour MP Frank Field said it was "difficult to overestimate how significant today's speech is".
"Ed Miliband today begins to redefine what Labour means by fairness and so begins the long haul of building a new coalition of voters straddling both working and middle class voters," he said."Ed Miliband today begins to redefine what Labour means by fairness and so begins the long haul of building a new coalition of voters straddling both working and middle class voters," he said.
"It signals the end of Labour's attack on the working class moral economy that has always believed benefits should be largely based on contributions and not decided simply on terms of need.""It signals the end of Labour's attack on the working class moral economy that has always believed benefits should be largely based on contributions and not decided simply on terms of need."
'Moved on' Despite previously declaring the era of New Labour dead, Mr Miliband chose to quote from Tony Blair during the speech.
A book serialised by the Mail on Sunday claims David Miliband is unhappy about Labour's direction under his brother's leadership and is barely on speaking terms with him. For his part, Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's the World at One that he is "content to give Ed my 100% support".
Senior figures are said to fear a return to the infighting of the Blair/Brown years, and there have also been accusations, including from Labour frontbencher Dianne Abbott, that David Miliband's supporters have been briefing against Ed.
However David Miliband responded with a statement on Sunday that read: "I have moved on from the leadership election and so should everyone else.
"Ed won, I stand fully behind him and so should everyone else. I called for unity last October and I repeat that now."
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne said Mr Miliband should be given "a couple of years" before his performance as a leader was judged.Shadow Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne said Mr Miliband should be given "a couple of years" before his performance as a leader was judged.
"Getting back in touch with people and renewing our agenda for the future isn't going to be a fortnight job. We actually do need a pretty major reappraisal of our policy," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."Getting back in touch with people and renewing our agenda for the future isn't going to be a fortnight job. We actually do need a pretty major reappraisal of our policy," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"I do think it will take a period of time for us to really hammer out what that policy agenda for the future will look like.""I do think it will take a period of time for us to really hammer out what that policy agenda for the future will look like."