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Ed Miliband dismisses criticism of his leadership Ed Miliband dismisses criticism of his leadership
(about 3 hours later)
Ed Miliband dismissed criticism of his leadership of Labour as he set out his vision of the party's future policies on benefit and top pay. Ed Miliband dismissed criticism of his leadership of Labour as he set out his vision of the party's future policies on "responsibility" and "fairness".
He vowed to stop Labour being "the party of those ripping off our society" such as benefit cheats and bankers.He vowed to stop Labour being "the party of those ripping off our society" such as benefit cheats and bankers.
It comes amid reports brother David and his supporters are unhappy with the way Ed is leading the party.It comes amid reports brother David and his supporters are unhappy with the way Ed is leading the party.
But Mr Miliband dismissed such claims as Westminster "tittle tattle" that was "irrelevant" to voters. But Mr Miliband dismissed such claims as Westminster "tittle-tattle" that was "irrelevant" to voters.
Speaking to reporters after a speech in London, he said he wanted to focus on "the issues that matter to the future of our country".Speaking to reporters after a speech in London, he said he wanted to focus on "the issues that matter to the future of our country".
On Sunday, following press stories of a feud, David Miliband issued a statement insisting he was "fully behind" his brother.On Sunday, following press stories of a feud, David Miliband issued a statement insisting he was "fully behind" his brother.
Other senior figures have also called for party unity after a weekend of sniping in newspapers from unnamed critics. Boardroom excesses
Writing in the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror newspaper, shadow chancellor Ed Balls denied there was any "bad blood" between himself and Mr Miliband. Asked about speculation surrounding his position, and criticism that he is not making a big enough impact, Ed Miliband said: "People aren't interested in who said what to whom in the Labour Party. People are much more interested in the future of the country.
Benefit cheats
Asked about speculation surrounding his position, Ed Miliband said: "People aren't interested in who said what to whom in the Labour Party. People are much more interested in the future of the country.
"I'm going to talk about those issues that matter... and in the end the electorate are the boss."I'm going to talk about those issues that matter... and in the end the electorate are the boss.
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.
"I am here because I was elected by my party. The gossip and tittle tattle of Westminster is actually irrelevant to most people's lives." "I am here because I was elected by my party. The gossip and tittle-tattle of Westminster is actually irrelevant to most people's lives."
Mr Miliband also dismissed suggestions that his brother was undermining his leadership, adding: "I think that's totally untrue. I think that's totally unfair."Mr Miliband also dismissed suggestions that his brother was undermining his leadership, adding: "I think that's totally untrue. I think that's totally unfair."
In his speech, Mr Miliband said his party had become associated with benefit cheats and overpaid bankers. In his speech, Mr Miliband launched a twin-pronged attack on boardroom excesses and abuses of the benefit system.
"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," he 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," he said.
"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."
He 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". 'Benefit scroungers'
Welfare must reward people who make a contribution to society, he said, and suggested that those who work or volunteer should get priority on council house waiting lists. He told the BBC's Nick Robinson that Labour had got its approach to the wealthy wrong during Gordon Brown's and Tony Blair's time in power.
Mr Miliband said such a practice was already in operation in Manchester and "encourages the kind of responsible behaviour which makes our communities stronger". "We didn't talk about the responsibilities of bankers, we didn't talk about the responsibilities of the rich, and that is one of the ways the Labour Party is going to change under my leadership."
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. He refused to speculate on whether that meant the 50p top tax rate would be extended, saying people would have to wait for the party's next manifesto.
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 did float the idea of a workers' representative in the boardroom to have a say on executive pay rates.
But he said he would not seek to impose a maximum ratio between the highest and lowest earners. He also said a future Labour government would require companies to publish the pay gap between their boardrooms and the average earnings of their workers.
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. He suggested those who work or volunteer should get priority on council-house waiting lists - and backed coalition moves to test more people on incapacity benefit as fit for work.
'Redefine fairness' But he denied he had declared war on "scroungers" - saying he did not like to use that term and it was only a "small minority" who abused the system.
Backbench Labour MP Frank Field, who supported Ed Miliband in last year's leadership contest, said it was "difficult to overestimate how significant today's speech is". 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, who he said were "demonising" those on benefits.
"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. Backbench Labour MP Frank Field said Mr Miliband was "beginning to mark out a position for the next election" different from New Labour and the coalition - and he hoped Labour's policy reviews would start to produce results.
"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." "I hope historians will see this as a turning point for him personally, but, more importantly, for the country's future as we begin to shape up an opposition that has a real alternative to the coalition government," he told the BBC News channel.
Despite previously declaring the era of New Labour dead, Mr Miliband chose to quote from Tony Blair during the speech.
For his part, Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's the World at One that he is "content to give Ed my 100% support".
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne said Mr Miliband should be given "a couple of years" before his performance as a leader was judged.
"We actually do need a pretty major reappraisal of our policy," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said: "Labour created a welfare system where work didn't pay, where families were sometimes better off apart and where average earners paid for benefits claimants to live in houses they could never afford themselves."