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Miliband urged not to 'play it safe' in 2015 manifesto Labour economic policies 'very clear' insists Harman
(about 7 hours later)
Labour is being urged not to "play it safe" in its election manifesto and secure a mandate for "transformative" change by pursuing bold policies. Labour has "momentum" on its side, deputy leader Harriet Harman has insisted, despite criticism of the party's response to the Budget.
Think tanks from the left and right of the party have warned the opposition not to rely on the "unpopularity" of the government to help it into power. Opinion polls suggest Labour's lead over the Tories is narrowing after George Osborne announced a surprise shake-up of pensions and savings.
Their intervention comes as opinion polls suggest Labour's lead over the Conservatives is narrowing. MPs and campaigners have urged Ed Miliband to sharpen his message, with the general election 14 months away.
Ed Miliband has been told by one of his MPs he is trying to be "too clever". But Ms Harman said the party's economic arguments were "very clear".
John Mann told the BBC the Labour leader needed to be "bolder" and "unambiguous" and to be "much clearer" in setting out his policies. Mr Miliband has been told by one of his MPs that he needs to be "much clearer" in setting out his own policies, including which coalition spending cuts he would reverse and which he would keep.
'Equal society''Equal society'
Meanwhile, a group of Labour-supporting think tanks have warned the opposition not to rely on the "unpopularity" of the government to help it into power.
Polls for the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times suggest Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen to a single percentage point following George Osborne's Budget on Wednesday.Polls for the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times suggest Labour's lead over the Conservatives has fallen to a single percentage point following George Osborne's Budget on Wednesday.
The chancellor promised to reform the pensions system to allow people more choice on how they spend their savings rather than buying annuities, which pay a regular income.The chancellor promised to reform the pensions system to allow people more choice on how they spend their savings rather than buying annuities, which pay a regular income.
Although some Labour MPs have opposed the plan - or raised questions about its impact - the party has now said it will not reverse them if it wins power in 2015.Although some Labour MPs have opposed the plan - or raised questions about its impact - the party has now said it will not reverse them if it wins power in 2015.
'Up and down'
Ms Harman said that while "polls obviously go up and down", the results of parliamentary and council elections since 2010 showed that the "momentum has very much been with us".
Labour, she insisted, had set out clear policies to tackle pressure on living standards, such as a proposed 20-month freeze in energy prices.
"I think Ed Miliband's message has been very clear. He has put the cost of living crisis on the political agenda.
"I think he has shown in relation to the energy companies... instead of just wringing his hands... that he understands the problem and is prepared to come forward with bold solutions where they are needed and he will continue to do that."
In a letter to the Guardian, a group of Labour-supporting organisations said the party's manifesto in 2015 should embody a "vision of a much more equal and sustainable society" that a "wider movement" of progressive opinion could rally around.In a letter to the Guardian, a group of Labour-supporting organisations said the party's manifesto in 2015 should embody a "vision of a much more equal and sustainable society" that a "wider movement" of progressive opinion could rally around.
'Simple terms''Simple terms'
The signatories - including prominent figures from Compass, Progress, the Policy Network, Class, The Fabian Society and Labour List - said what was needed was not simply a change of government but a decisive break from existing policies on the economy, environment and public services.The signatories - including prominent figures from Compass, Progress, the Policy Network, Class, The Fabian Society and Labour List - said what was needed was not simply a change of government but a decisive break from existing policies on the economy, environment and public services.
"The country needs not just a change of government but a transformative change in direction," they write."The country needs not just a change of government but a transformative change in direction," they write.
"But if Labour plays the next election safe, hoping to win on the basis of Tory unpopularity, it will not have earned a mandate for such change.""But if Labour plays the next election safe, hoping to win on the basis of Tory unpopularity, it will not have earned a mandate for such change."
Labour has set out a number of policies, including freezing energy bills for 20 months, re-introducing the 10p starting rate of income tax and reversing cuts to housing benefit. There is concern that Labour is still being blamed for the size of the deficit and levels of immigration and its core economic message, based on the argument that most people are worse off than in 2010, could begin to lose its appeal as the recovery takes hold.
But there is concern that the party is still being blamed for the size of the deficit and levels of immigration and its core economic message, based on the argument that most people are worse off than in 2010, could begin to lose its appeal as the recovery takes hold. 'Warning shot'
Mr Mann, MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, said the latest polls were a "warning shot" to Labour, and reflected the fact the government's message on pension reform was "simple and popular". John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, said the latest polls were a "warning shot" to Labour, and reflected the fact the government's message on pension reform was "simple and popular".
"It would be naive to think otherwise, and the message is that we need to be much clearer and simpler in putting across what our alternative is and what we stand for," he told the BBC."It would be naive to think otherwise, and the message is that we need to be much clearer and simpler in putting across what our alternative is and what we stand for," he told the BBC.
'Taken seriously'
Labour, he added, had to be much clearer about which cuts it would reverse and which it would not.
"We're trying to be too clever - too many nuanced messages to too many different people," he said - adding that Labour needed to talk "in simple, unambiguous terms"."We're trying to be too clever - too many nuanced messages to too many different people," he said - adding that Labour needed to talk "in simple, unambiguous terms".
But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Labour should not be "obsessing" over opinion polls and what mattered was how people actually voted.
He said Labour had gained "tens of thousands of members" since the 2010 general election, adding: "People are seriously talking about us winning and that's not what they were saying then."
Research by Survation for the Mail on Sunday suggests Labour support at 35%, up 1% on its rating in January. But Conservative support increased by 4% to 34%. The online survey of 1,000 adults was carried out on Thursday and Saturday.Research by Survation for the Mail on Sunday suggests Labour support at 35%, up 1% on its rating in January. But Conservative support increased by 4% to 34%. The online survey of 1,000 adults was carried out on Thursday and Saturday.
Another poll, by YouGov for The Sunday Times, also suggested the Conservatives were a single point behind, on 36% to Labour's 37%. YouGov questioned 2,103 adults on Thursday and Friday.Another poll, by YouGov for The Sunday Times, also suggested the Conservatives were a single point behind, on 36% to Labour's 37%. YouGov questioned 2,103 adults on Thursday and Friday.