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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband: my family probably spends £80 a week on groceries | Ed Miliband: my family probably spends £80 a week on groceries |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband has insisted he is well placed to focus on the cost of living crisis in Britain even though he appeared to under-estimate his family's weekly grocery bill. | Ed Miliband has insisted he is well placed to focus on the cost of living crisis in Britain even though he appeared to under-estimate his family's weekly grocery bill. |
| The Labour leader, who said it is right to place the issue at the front of his general election campaign even though he is "relatively comfortably off", told ITV's Good Morning Britain that his family spends at least £70 to £80 a week – and probably more – on groceries. | The Labour leader, who said it is right to place the issue at the front of his general election campaign even though he is "relatively comfortably off", told ITV's Good Morning Britain that his family spends at least £70 to £80 a week – and probably more – on groceries. |
| When he was told that the average weekly bill for a family of four was more than £100, he said: "Right, well it [the grocery bill] is more than £100." | When he was told that the average weekly bill for a family of four was more than £100, he said: "Right, well it [the grocery bill] is more than £100." |
| The most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report on family spending shows that for a household such as Miliband's comprising two parents and two children the average weekly spend on food and non-alcoholic drinks is £83.60. Including alcohol and tobacco the figure rises to £96. | |
| Miliband later clarified his remarks and said that his original estimate related to the cost of basic groceries. He told BBC Radio Oxford: "On the basics, I was saying it was about £70 or £80 but the overall shopping bill would obviously be higher." | Miliband later clarified his remarks and said that his original estimate related to the cost of basic groceries. He told BBC Radio Oxford: "On the basics, I was saying it was about £70 or £80 but the overall shopping bill would obviously be higher." |
| But Labour's opponents seized on Miliband's remarks. Kris Hopkins, the housing minister, tweeted: "Ed Miliband on ITV Breakfast. Usual disaster. Can we have him on every morning please?" | But Labour's opponents seized on Miliband's remarks. Kris Hopkins, the housing minister, tweeted: "Ed Miliband on ITV Breakfast. Usual disaster. Can we have him on every morning please?" |
| Miliband ran into trouble when he was asked about his family's grocery bill. The Labour leader, who is married with two young children, said: "We probably spend £70, £80 a week on groceries at least, probably more than that. The point is that different families will have different costs that they face, but what I am clear about is that there is a crisis facing so many people." | Miliband ran into trouble when he was asked about his family's grocery bill. The Labour leader, who is married with two young children, said: "We probably spend £70, £80 a week on groceries at least, probably more than that. The point is that different families will have different costs that they face, but what I am clear about is that there is a crisis facing so many people." |
| When he was told that he would spend "significantly more" than his estimate, on the grounds that the average weekly bill for a family of four was more than £100, Miliband acknowledged that many people were struggling and said he would continue to focus on the cost of living crisis. This was caused, he said, by an historic break between wages and prices as inflation outstripped wage increases during the recession. This appeared to be coming to an end, though Miliband said he would continue to focus on the issue because millions of people were still struggling on low wages. | When he was told that he would spend "significantly more" than his estimate, on the grounds that the average weekly bill for a family of four was more than £100, Miliband acknowledged that many people were struggling and said he would continue to focus on the cost of living crisis. This was caused, he said, by an historic break between wages and prices as inflation outstripped wage increases during the recession. This appeared to be coming to an end, though Miliband said he would continue to focus on the issue because millions of people were still struggling on low wages. |
| He said: "Lots of people are facing a real struggle. I am relatively comfortably off, but what I know is that there are deep issues that need to be tackled and we are determined to tackle them. I think this issue of the cost-of-living crisis is the biggest issue that our country faces and I am determined we tackle it." | He said: "Lots of people are facing a real struggle. I am relatively comfortably off, but what I know is that there are deep issues that need to be tackled and we are determined to tackle them. I think this issue of the cost-of-living crisis is the biggest issue that our country faces and I am determined we tackle it." |