This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/apr/26/ed-miliband-rupert-murdoch-politics-live
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Politics live blog: Ed Miliband interviewed on Today | Politics live blog: Ed Miliband interviewed on Today |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 8.45am: Here's some Twitter reaction to Ed Miliband's Today interview. | |
| From ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie | |
| Clear from that Ed Miliband interview that he's a centraliser -- opposing regionalised pay and Gove's schools reforms | |
| — Tim Montgomerie (@TimMontgomerie) April 26, 2012 | |
| From the Telegraph's Iain Martin | |
| V good @EvanHD interview with ED M on @BBCr4today - beyond the fuss of the moment, very revealing. At root Ed really loves the big state | |
| — Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) April 26, 2012 | |
| From Michael Dugher, the shadow Cabinet Office minister | |
| @iainmartin1 Ed pro-academies but wants to see a stronger local role and give more powers to heads. Sounds like your cup of tea, Iain. | |
| — Michael Dugher (@MichaelDugherMP) April 26, 2012 | |
| From Stewart Wood, a shadow minister and one of Miliband's key policy advisers | |
| .@TimMontgomerie Hi Tim: there are many reasons to oppose regionalised pay & question free schools other than an instinct for centralisation | |
| — Stewart Wood (@StewartWood) April 26, 2012 | |
| From the Daily Mail's James Chapman | |
| Ed Miliband right to hit on intergenerational unfairness as a big issue. But logically means he must support granny tax? #today | |
| — James Chapman (Mail) (@jameschappers) April 26, 2012 | |
| From the Guardian's Polly Curtis | |
| Miliband: "I do believe" "I do say" "I do think" "let me speak to that point". It's not important but it's not how people speak... #r4today | |
| — polly curtis (@pollycurtis) April 26, 2012 | |
| From the Financial Times's Jim Pickard | |
| Ed miliband should drop the irritating phrase, "I say to you"... | |
| — Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) April 26, 2012 | |
| 8.28am: I'm not sure that was particularly revealing. I like the way Evan Davis adops a "let's explore some big issues" approach to interviewing instead of the "admit you're useless" approach or the crude headline-creating approach, but it only works if the interviewer is willing to open up, and today Miliband was not being particuarly candid. | 8.28am: I'm not sure that was particularly revealing. I like the way Evan Davis adops a "let's explore some big issues" approach to interviewing instead of the "admit you're useless" approach or the crude headline-creating approach, but it only works if the interviewer is willing to open up, and today Miliband was not being particuarly candid. |
| Still, Miliband was clear on regional pay, he was interesting on the need for the left to show that it can take tough decisions, he intriguingly said that he agreed with François Hollande on inter-generational justice and he gave us some fresh quotes on Jeremy Hunt. He also said something about wanting to devolve more power to headteachers which sounded new to me. I'll post a summary soon. | Still, Miliband was clear on regional pay, he was interesting on the need for the left to show that it can take tough decisions, he intriguingly said that he agreed with François Hollande on inter-generational justice and he gave us some fresh quotes on Jeremy Hunt. He also said something about wanting to devolve more power to headteachers which sounded new to me. I'll post a summary soon. |
| 8.23am: They turn to health. | 8.23am: They turn to health. |
| Q: Do you object to private health insurance? | Q: Do you object to private health insurance? |
| Miliband says he is not going to stop Davis taking out private health insurance. | Miliband says he is not going to stop Davis taking out private health insurance. |
| But he would like to show people that the NHS can be better. | But he would like to show people that the NHS can be better. |
| Q: What do you think of François Hollande in France? | Q: What do you think of François Hollande in France? |
| Miliband says he is not planning a 75% top rate of tax. But Hollande is saying austerity alone will not achieve what France needs. Miliband says he agrees with that. | Miliband says he is not planning a 75% top rate of tax. But Hollande is saying austerity alone will not achieve what France needs. Miliband says he agrees with that. |
| The last Labour government did not do enough to change the economy. | The last Labour government did not do enough to change the economy. |
| Q: Are you hoping Hollande wins? | Q: Are you hoping Hollande wins? |
| Miliband says Hollande represents Labour's sister party, so he's wishing him luck. | Miliband says Hollande represents Labour's sister party, so he's wishing him luck. |
| Hollande is also interested in inter-generational equality. That's a big issue. | Hollande is also interested in inter-generational equality. That's a big issue. |
| 8.20am: Davis turns to decentralisation. | 8.20am: Davis turns to decentralisation. |
| Q: Would you support regional pay? | Q: Would you support regional pay? |
| Miliband says the evidence suggests it does not work. Regional pay would cement a north/south divide. | Miliband says the evidence suggests it does not work. Regional pay would cement a north/south divide. |
| On the wider point, he says he is not someone who believes the state has all the answers. Michael Gove is a centralising education secretary, he says. Miliband says he does not agree. He would like to devolve more power to headteachers. | On the wider point, he says he is not someone who believes the state has all the answers. Michael Gove is a centralising education secretary, he says. Miliband says he does not agree. He would like to devolve more power to headteachers. |
| Q: That's the same as Gove, isn't it? | Q: That's the same as Gove, isn't it? |
| No, says Miliband. Gove does not see a role for local authorities. Miliband says he does see a role for them. | No, says Miliband. Gove does not see a role for local authorities. Miliband says he does see a role for them. |
| Miliband also says Gove's policies are for the few, not the many. Davis cuts him off, because he does not just want to hear him slagging off the government. | Miliband also says Gove's policies are for the few, not the many. Davis cuts him off, because he does not just want to hear him slagging off the government. |
| Q: But your answer on regional pay suggests you will revert to a centralising model. | Q: But your answer on regional pay suggests you will revert to a centralising model. |
| Miliband says regional pay would not work. | Miliband says regional pay would not work. |
| 8.14am: Davis moves on to other issues. Q: How big should government spending be as a proportion of national income? Roughly? | 8.14am: Davis moves on to other issues. Q: How big should government spending be as a proportion of national income? Roughly? |
| Miliband says the government promised prosperity. The economy works well for those at the top. But it is not delivering for the majority who are "really squeezed". We are in a double-dip recession and we need to change the way the economy works. | Miliband says the government promised prosperity. The economy works well for those at the top. But it is not delivering for the majority who are "really squeezed". We are in a double-dip recession and we need to change the way the economy works. |
| Labour is showing how it would stand up to vested interests. | Labour is showing how it would stand up to vested interests. |
| Miliband says he has taken a strong stand on executive pay. | Miliband says he has taken a strong stand on executive pay. |
| Q: Would you be comforable with a state representing 45% of national income? It's at about that figure at the moment. | Q: Would you be comforable with a state representing 45% of national income? It's at about that figure at the moment. |
| Miliband says the proportion of national income that the state takes relates to the extent to which your economy is growing. So "let's not pluck out of the air figures for this percentage or that". Labour has to show it is a party for tough times as well as easy times. The left has been losing elections around the world because people think parties of the right are the only ones that can take tough decisions in hard times. But Miliband says he does not agree. Q: But your opponents would say this. Can you flesh out what is different about you? | Miliband says the proportion of national income that the state takes relates to the extent to which your economy is growing. So "let's not pluck out of the air figures for this percentage or that". Labour has to show it is a party for tough times as well as easy times. The left has been losing elections around the world because people think parties of the right are the only ones that can take tough decisions in hard times. But Miliband says he does not agree. Q: But your opponents would say this. Can you flesh out what is different about you? |
| Miliband says Labour would not have cut the 50p top rate of tax. | Miliband says Labour would not have cut the 50p top rate of tax. |
| Miliband says this is not just a technocratic argument about whether the 50p rate raises money. The right beleive that if you cut taxes, wealth will trickle down. Miliband says he thinks that you have to allow those in the middle to create wealth. | Miliband says this is not just a technocratic argument about whether the 50p rate raises money. The right beleive that if you cut taxes, wealth will trickle down. Miliband says he thinks that you have to allow those in the middle to create wealth. |
| 8.10am: Evan Davis is interviewing Ed Miliband. He's starting now. Q: Lord Fowler said yesterday on the programme that politicians should not be invovled in media ownership decisions. Do you agree? | 8.10am: Evan Davis is interviewing Ed Miliband. He's starting now. Q: Lord Fowler said yesterday on the programme that politicians should not be invovled in media ownership decisions. Do you agree? |
| No, says Miliband. There is a public interest that politicians can represent. When Alistair Darling was in government, he had to take decisions about BSkyB and ITV. It is "incredible" that Jeremy Hunt has not resigned. | No, says Miliband. There is a public interest that politicians can represent. When Alistair Darling was in government, he had to take decisions about BSkyB and ITV. It is "incredible" that Jeremy Hunt has not resigned. |
| Q: Labour also did favours for the Murdochs. The public won't be satisfied until there is complete separation. | Q: Labour also did favours for the Murdochs. The public won't be satisfied until there is complete separation. |
| Miliband says Labour got too close to the Murdochs. But there is a world of difference between that, and the pattern of behaviour exposed at Leveson. | Miliband says Labour got too close to the Murdochs. But there is a world of difference between that, and the pattern of behaviour exposed at Leveson. |
| Politicians have to make decisions about all kinds of issues. They should stand up to vested interest. That is what Labour is doing under his leadership, Miliband says. | Politicians have to make decisions about all kinds of issues. They should stand up to vested interest. That is what Labour is doing under his leadership, Miliband says. |
| Why is Hunt still in his job, Miliband asks. Because David Cameron has questions to answer. | Why is Hunt still in his job, Miliband asks. Because David Cameron has questions to answer. |
| This matter, because politicians should goven in the national interest. | This matter, because politicians should goven in the national interest. |
| 8.00am: Rupert Murdoch is back at the Leveson inquiry this morning. There's some excellent coverage of his appearance yesterday in the Guardian, but do start with this piece by Harold Evans. | 8.00am: Rupert Murdoch is back at the Leveson inquiry this morning. There's some excellent coverage of his appearance yesterday in the Guardian, but do start with this piece by Harold Evans. |
| Rupert Murdoch has apparently lost a great deal of his power of memory, but nature has compensated by endowing him with a vivid imagination. He can surely deploy his new gift in the service of Fox movies. There is the great scene he pitched to Lord Justice Leveson on Wednesday morning where the editor of the Times enters left, closes the door behind him and begs: "Look, tell me what you want to say, what do you want me to say, and it need not leave this room and I'll say it." And our hero proprietor, so famously fastidious about such matters, has to tell Uriah Heep: "That is not my job." | Rupert Murdoch has apparently lost a great deal of his power of memory, but nature has compensated by endowing him with a vivid imagination. He can surely deploy his new gift in the service of Fox movies. There is the great scene he pitched to Lord Justice Leveson on Wednesday morning where the editor of the Times enters left, closes the door behind him and begs: "Look, tell me what you want to say, what do you want me to say, and it need not leave this room and I'll say it." And our hero proprietor, so famously fastidious about such matters, has to tell Uriah Heep: "That is not my job." |
| And thus, children, was how Mr KR Murdoch honoured the promises of editorial independence that enabled him to avoid the Monopolies and Mergers Commission over his bid for Times Newspapers in 1981. As the editor in question, I am not able to compete with Murdoch in fabrication – he has had a lifetime of experience – but I do happen to have retained my memory of the year editing the Times, made notes, kept documents and even had the effrontery to write a whole bestselling book about it in 1983, called Good Times, Bad Times. | And thus, children, was how Mr KR Murdoch honoured the promises of editorial independence that enabled him to avoid the Monopolies and Mergers Commission over his bid for Times Newspapers in 1981. As the editor in question, I am not able to compete with Murdoch in fabrication – he has had a lifetime of experience – but I do happen to have retained my memory of the year editing the Times, made notes, kept documents and even had the effrontery to write a whole bestselling book about it in 1983, called Good Times, Bad Times. |
We'll be covering today's hearing on a separate live blog, but I'll pick up some of the political reaction here. | We'll be covering today's hearing on a separate live blog, but I'll pick up some of the political reaction here. |
| First, though, we've got Ed Miliband being interviewed on the Today programme at 8.10am. After that, here's the agenda for the day. | First, though, we've got Ed Miliband being interviewed on the Today programme at 8.10am. After that, here's the agenda for the day. |
| 8.30am: David Cameron speaks at an international clean energy conference. 10am: Rupert Murdoch resumes giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry. | 8.30am: David Cameron speaks at an international clean energy conference. 10am: Rupert Murdoch resumes giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry. |
| 10am: Bakers are marching to Downing Street to protest about the "pasty tax". | 10am: Bakers are marching to Downing Street to protest about the "pasty tax". |
| 10.15am: Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, gives evidence to public accounts committee. Labour MPs want to ask him about Jeremy Hunt and News Corporation. 10.15am: Nigel Farage launches Ukip's campaign for the local elections. | 10.15am: Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, gives evidence to public accounts committee. Labour MPs want to ask him about Jeremy Hunt and News Corporation. 10.15am: Nigel Farage launches Ukip's campaign for the local elections. |
| As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary before 12.30pm and another in the afternoon. | As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary before 12.30pm and another in the afternoon. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |