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Ed Miliband admits misjudgment in World at One interview Ed Miliband admits misjudgment in World at One interview
(5 months later)
Ed Miliband took the unusual step on Tuesday of admitting he had made a misjudgment in an interview and should have accepted that his plans for growth would require extra borrowing, at least in the short term.Ed Miliband took the unusual step on Tuesday of admitting he had made a misjudgment in an interview and should have accepted that his plans for growth would require extra borrowing, at least in the short term.
On Monday Miliband refused eight times to admit that his plan for a VAT cut to kickstart the economy would mean extra borrowing. But on ITV's Daybreak on Tuesday the Labour leader conceded he had made a misjudgment: "That happens – you do some interviews well and some not so well," he said.On Monday Miliband refused eight times to admit that his plan for a VAT cut to kickstart the economy would mean extra borrowing. But on ITV's Daybreak on Tuesday the Labour leader conceded he had made a misjudgment: "That happens – you do some interviews well and some not so well," he said.
"I was asked a question about Labour's plans to cut VAT. I am clear about this – a temporary cut in VAT, as we are proposing, would lead to a temporary rise in borrowing. The point I was making was to get growth going by cutting VAT, then over time you will see borrowing actually fall. That was the point I was making. It's good to make that point clear today.""I was asked a question about Labour's plans to cut VAT. I am clear about this – a temporary cut in VAT, as we are proposing, would lead to a temporary rise in borrowing. The point I was making was to get growth going by cutting VAT, then over time you will see borrowing actually fall. That was the point I was making. It's good to make that point clear today."
He said he had omitted the line on Monday because "I suppose I felt it was rather a commonplace" which had been often stated by Labour and because he wanted to get across what Labour wanted to happen in the medium term – that the stimulus would bring growth that would lower borrowing.He said he had omitted the line on Monday because "I suppose I felt it was rather a commonplace" which had been often stated by Labour and because he wanted to get across what Labour wanted to happen in the medium term – that the stimulus would bring growth that would lower borrowing.
Speaking to Channel 4 he said he did not know how long it would take to get borrowing down, but suggested "my point is this, over a five-year period we will be more effective at getting borrowing down over the medium term".Speaking to Channel 4 he said he did not know how long it would take to get borrowing down, but suggested "my point is this, over a five-year period we will be more effective at getting borrowing down over the medium term".
Miliband was heavily criticised over the interview on BBC Radio 4's The World at One on Monday, not just by rightwing newspapers such as the Daily Mail, but also by leftwing commentators such as the New Statesman and the leftwing blog Labour List. Peter Kellner, the respected YouGov pollster, called the interview shrill and immature.Miliband was heavily criticised over the interview on BBC Radio 4's The World at One on Monday, not just by rightwing newspapers such as the Daily Mail, but also by leftwing commentators such as the New Statesman and the leftwing blog Labour List. Peter Kellner, the respected YouGov pollster, called the interview shrill and immature.
Miliband's aides said that in retrospect the interview should not have been conducted down the line in a BBC radio car shortly after he had completed an emotionally charged question and answer in Newcastle-under-Lyme high street.Miliband's aides said that in retrospect the interview should not have been conducted down the line in a BBC radio car shortly after he had completed an emotionally charged question and answer in Newcastle-under-Lyme high street.
Miliband had been struck by the contrast between questions he was asked by Westminster media and the issues raised in market squares on his campaign tour.Miliband had been struck by the contrast between questions he was asked by Westminster media and the issues raised in market squares on his campaign tour.
His team is using the local elections as a dry run for the kind of general election campaign tour he is planning. The Labour leader has yet to decide who will run the campaign.His team is using the local elections as a dry run for the kind of general election campaign tour he is planning. The Labour leader has yet to decide who will run the campaign.
Labour List, a largely sympathetic Labour blog, suggested Miliband needed to have the courage of his convictions, and Blairite MPs said if he was not prepared to embrace the political logic of his Keynesian position he needed to abandon it.Labour List, a largely sympathetic Labour blog, suggested Miliband needed to have the courage of his convictions, and Blairite MPs said if he was not prepared to embrace the political logic of his Keynesian position he needed to abandon it.
Labour denied his caution was an implicit admission that it will be hard to persuade the electorate that the solution to a borrowing crisis is, in the short term, further borrowing,Labour denied his caution was an implicit admission that it will be hard to persuade the electorate that the solution to a borrowing crisis is, in the short term, further borrowing,
The row follows a similar interview on the Today programme earlier this year when the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, also took many questions to admit his stance required a short-term borrowing rise.The row follows a similar interview on the Today programme earlier this year when the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, also took many questions to admit his stance required a short-term borrowing rise.
It comes after a poll found more than half of the public think the government's economic strategy has failed. A ComRes poll for the Independent found 58% agreed with Labour's "time for a change" agenda and that the government's plans have failed to turn the economy around, with 31% disagreeing.It comes after a poll found more than half of the public think the government's economic strategy has failed. A ComRes poll for the Independent found 58% agreed with Labour's "time for a change" agenda and that the government's plans have failed to turn the economy around, with 31% disagreeing.
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