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Ed Miliband tells Labour conference: We're the one-nation party Ed Miliband tells Labour conference: We're the one-nation party
(35 minutes later)
By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News, in Manchester   By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News, in Manchester
Ed Miliband has vowed to unite the nation and lead it through tough economic times in his speech to the Labour Party conference.Ed Miliband has vowed to unite the nation and lead it through tough economic times in his speech to the Labour Party conference.
The Labour leader attempted to set out his credentials as the next prime minister under the One Nation banner.The Labour leader attempted to set out his credentials as the next prime minister under the One Nation banner.
He promised not to shrink from tough spending decisions.He promised not to shrink from tough spending decisions.
But he would ensure "those with the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden" in contrast, he said, to the coalition.But he would ensure "those with the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden" in contrast, he said, to the coalition.
Speaking without notes and walking around the stage, Mr Miliband attempted to set out a vision of a "country for all" in which everybody played their part.Speaking without notes and walking around the stage, Mr Miliband attempted to set out a vision of a "country for all" in which everybody played their part.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the speech went down well in the hall, with the audience reaction suggesting the Labour Party had "taken Ed Miliband to their bosom".
The Labour leader cited as his inspiration a former Conservative Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who made a famous speech on One Nation Conservatism in Manchester's Free Trade Hall, now a luxury hotel opposite Labour's conference venue.The Labour leader cited as his inspiration a former Conservative Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who made a famous speech on One Nation Conservatism in Manchester's Free Trade Hall, now a luxury hotel opposite Labour's conference venue.
'Shower''Shower'
During his address to the packed hall, Mr Miliband invoked the spirit of the Olympics and World War Two as examples of what Britain can do when everyone pulls together, while criticising the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. During his 65-minute address to the packed hall, Mr Miliband invoked the spirit of the Olympics and World War Two as examples of what Britain can do when everyone pulls together, while criticising the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
He got a standing ovation when he called Prime Minister David Cameron a "U-turning shower".He got a standing ovation when he called Prime Minister David Cameron a "U-turning shower".
Mr Miliband said Labour would not be able to reverse all of the coalition's spending cuts if it won the next election but promised a fairer approach to cuts than the coalition and policies to promote growth.Mr Miliband said Labour would not be able to reverse all of the coalition's spending cuts if it won the next election but promised a fairer approach to cuts than the coalition and policies to promote growth.
The speech contained few new policy announcements - but unveiled proposals for a new qualification - the technical baccalaureate - to be taken at 18.The speech contained few new policy announcements - but unveiled proposals for a new qualification - the technical baccalaureate - to be taken at 18.
This would transform the lives of the "forgotten" 50% of young people in England who do not go to university, the Labour leader said.This would transform the lives of the "forgotten" 50% of young people in England who do not go to university, the Labour leader said.
Mr Miliband, who praised the work of the police and armed forces, also talked about growing up as the son of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazis.Mr Miliband, who praised the work of the police and armed forces, also talked about growing up as the son of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazis.
"My family hasn't sat under the same oak tree for the last 500 years," he said."My family hasn't sat under the same oak tree for the last 500 years," he said.
"I was born at my local NHS hospital, the same hospital where my two sons were born. And I went to my local school with people from all backgrounds."I was born at my local NHS hospital, the same hospital where my two sons were born. And I went to my local school with people from all backgrounds.
"My school taught us a lot more than just how to pass exams: it taught people how to get on with each other, whoever they are and wherever they were from.""My school taught us a lot more than just how to pass exams: it taught people how to get on with each other, whoever they are and wherever they were from."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson believes Mr Miliband's aim was not just to tell his own personal story - it was to contrast his background with that of Eton-educated Mr Cameron.
Mr Miliband declared that the next Labour government would reform education and apprenticeships - in partnership with business - to create a more highly skilled and highly paid workforce.Mr Miliband declared that the next Labour government would reform education and apprenticeships - in partnership with business - to create a more highly skilled and highly paid workforce.
The new certificate would replace the dozens of existing vocational qualifications with a single "gold standard" exam, which would also include maths and English.The new certificate would replace the dozens of existing vocational qualifications with a single "gold standard" exam, which would also include maths and English.
Labour would also reform apprenticeships, giving control of the £1bn budget for on-the-job training to business and allowing firms more of a say in setting the standards for vocational qualifications, he said.Labour would also reform apprenticeships, giving control of the £1bn budget for on-the-job training to business and allowing firms more of a say in setting the standards for vocational qualifications, he said.
'Fast track''Fast track'
"Sector by sector, we're going to give business the power and responsibility to make sure the training happens," Mr Miliband said."Sector by sector, we're going to give business the power and responsibility to make sure the training happens," Mr Miliband said.
There would be a new "fast track" for apprentices to match the one that already exists to get bright graduates into the civil service and all large firms with government contracts would be forced to provide apprenticeships.There would be a new "fast track" for apprentices to match the one that already exists to get bright graduates into the civil service and all large firms with government contracts would be forced to provide apprenticeships.
The latest opinion poll by ComRes for the Independent newspaper has Labour on 38 points, down three points on last month. The Conservatives are unchanged on 35 points and the Liberal Democrats up three points on 15.The latest opinion poll by ComRes for the Independent newspaper has Labour on 38 points, down three points on last month. The Conservatives are unchanged on 35 points and the Liberal Democrats up three points on 15.
The poll also suggests only 22% of people think Mr Miliband "has what it takes to be a good prime minister", compared with 39% for David Cameron.The poll also suggests only 22% of people think Mr Miliband "has what it takes to be a good prime minister", compared with 39% for David Cameron.
But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Mr Miliband had been "performing extremely well" in polls asking how in touch he is with people's concerns and understanding how to get jobs and growth.But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Mr Miliband had been "performing extremely well" in polls asking how in touch he is with people's concerns and understanding how to get jobs and growth.
The Conservatives responded to the details of Mr Miliband's speech by saying: "Under Labour, we saw our country's education system plummet down the global league tables, far fewer apprenticeships created than our competitors, and youth unemployment rising.The Conservatives responded to the details of Mr Miliband's speech by saying: "Under Labour, we saw our country's education system plummet down the global league tables, far fewer apprenticeships created than our competitors, and youth unemployment rising.
"This government is taking radical steps to create more good schools, reform vocational qualifications and create far more apprenticeships than Labour ever did."This government is taking radical steps to create more good schools, reform vocational qualifications and create far more apprenticeships than Labour ever did.
"But Ed Miliband today is playing catch-up on our vocational reforms - and calling for yet more borrowing and more debt.""But Ed Miliband today is playing catch-up on our vocational reforms - and calling for yet more borrowing and more debt."
ComRes interviewed 1,010 adults by telephone between 28 and 30 September for its poll, with data being weighted to be demographically representative.ComRes interviewed 1,010 adults by telephone between 28 and 30 September for its poll, with data being weighted to be demographically representative.
Are you part of the "forgotten" 50% of young people who do not go to university? Would you benefit from the new qualification and reformed apprenticeships? Send us your views using the form below.