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Where did Miliband get his 'one nation' idea from? Where did Miliband get his 'one nation' idea from?
(35 minutes later)
Ed Miliband borrowed a political philosophy from the Conservatives as he sought to position Labour as an inclusive "one nation" party.Ed Miliband borrowed a political philosophy from the Conservatives as he sought to position Labour as an inclusive "one nation" party.
The tradition of one nation conservatism stretches back to 19th-century prime minister Benjamin Disraeli and was adopted by later Tories including Edward Heath.The tradition of one nation conservatism stretches back to 19th-century prime minister Benjamin Disraeli and was adopted by later Tories including Edward Heath.
But the doctrine, based on reducing the gap between rich and poor and tackling social problems, fell out of favour under Margaret Thatcher, who derided the "wets" in her party.But the doctrine, based on reducing the gap between rich and poor and tackling social problems, fell out of favour under Margaret Thatcher, who derided the "wets" in her party.
Miliband is not the first Labour leader to seek to assume Disraeli's mantle – Tony Blair also laid claim to the one nation agenda as opposition leader. In the party's 1997 manifesto, he declared: "I want a Britain that is one nation, with shared values and purpose, where merit comes before privilege, run for the many not the few, strong and sure of itself at home and abroad."Miliband is not the first Labour leader to seek to assume Disraeli's mantle – Tony Blair also laid claim to the one nation agenda as opposition leader. In the party's 1997 manifesto, he declared: "I want a Britain that is one nation, with shared values and purpose, where merit comes before privilege, run for the many not the few, strong and sure of itself at home and abroad."
The phrase derives from Disraeli's 1845 novel, Sybil, in which he described the rich and poor as "two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones or inhabitants of different planets; who are formed by different breeding, are fed by different food, are ordered by different manners, and are not governed by the same laws".The phrase derives from Disraeli's 1845 novel, Sybil, in which he described the rich and poor as "two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones or inhabitants of different planets; who are formed by different breeding, are fed by different food, are ordered by different manners, and are not governed by the same laws".
In 1872, Disraeli, as Tory leader, spoke passionately about the need for the state to intervene to help the poor in an address at Manchester's Free Trade Hall – which stood around 100 yards from the stage where Miliband set out his own version of the one nation agenda on Tuesday. In 1872, Disraeli, as Tory leader, spoke passionately about the need for the state to intervene to help the poor in an address at Manchester's Free Trade Hall – which stood around 100 metres from the stage where Miliband set out his own version of the one nation agenda on Tuesday.
A source close to the Labour leader said Miliband felt the "one nation" spirit was demonstrated during the second world war and in the years following the conflict, when Clement Attlee's administration rebuilt Britain, including the formation of the NHS. A source close to the Labour leader said Miliband felt the "one nation" spirit was demonstrated during the second world war and in the years following the conflict, when Clement Attlee's administration rebuilt Britain, including the formation of the NHS.
"A one nation country is a country where people of all background can work together," the source said. "A one nation country is a country where people of all backgrounds can work together," the source said.