One Nation makeover can unite Britain under Labour, insists Ed Miliband

By ANDREW WHITAKER
Published on 04/10/2012 00:36

“ONE Nation Labour” can win the next general election by showing it will unite Britain, Ed Miliband insisted yesterday, as he said his party was best placed to bring the country together in difficult times.

The Labour leader won plaudits on Tuesday for his confident no-notes speech to Labour’s annual conference in Manchester, in which he laid claim to the One Nation watchword first coined by Tory prime minister Benjamin Disraeli.

Mr Miliband said UK voters will be “hearing much more” about his flagship vision of One Nation to seize the centre ground of politics as he said that the wanted to reduce tuition fees and raise public sector pay.

Yesterday he made clear he intends to attach the slogan firmly to his own party, repeatedly referring to One Nation Labour as he sought to explain how his approach would differ from earlier leaders.

The Labour leader used a question and answer session at the party’s conference in Manchester yesterday to promise that he would attend a major national trade union demonstration against the coalition government’s cuts agenda.

He fielded questions from Labour activists during an informal session the day after he attempted to reinvent himself as the leader of a party that can unite the UK and lead Britain out of the economic recession.

Labour members pressed Mr Miliband over issues such as the public sector pay freeze, university education and the living wage for state employees during a lively question and answer session of about ninety minutes.

Mr Miliband said he wanted to reduce tuition fees and student debt, but said he would not commit to completely abolishing charges for those in higher education.

“It’s about being a nation where anyone can advance,” he said. “It’s about understanding who we left behind as a party. One Nation is something you’ll be hearing a lot more of in the years ahead.

“I’m not going to be able to do everything I would like to.

“We could cut tuition fees to £6,000. That’s the best I can say.”

Appearing relaxed in shirt sleeves at the event, he was asked if he would attend the Trades Union Congress mass national demonstration on 20 October against the Conservative-led government’s cuts. “Yes I’ll be there,” he said. “I get the frustration public sector workers face, but I have given a candid approach about what we would have to do if we were in government now.

“The living wage is not a panacea, but it is about making a difference above the legal minimum wage.”

Mr Miliband went on to suggest that his vision of One Nation would help deliver a Labour victory at the next General Election.

He added: “The spirit of One Nation matters because it’s about ensuring that everyone in the nation is included. In David Cameron at the next election you won’t see a uniter, you’ll see a divider.”