Johann Lamont’s stance on funding ‘realities’ gets Ed Miliband’s backing

By DAVID MADDOX
Published on 01/10/2012 00:00

SCOTTISH Labour delegates were told by Ed Miliband last night that it was time “to live with reality” and accept there were difficult decisions to make on the economy.

The Labour leader was speaking at the Scots Night reception at the party conference, where he endorsed the approach taken by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, right, in a major speech last week.

Mrs Lamont said difficult choices would have to be made over prioritising funding for services such as free care for the elderly and tuition fees paid from the public purse.

Mr Miliband praised Mrs Lamont’s “excellent leadership” for starting the public debate.

He said: “We’ve got to live with the reality of the public finances we’re going to face. We can’t pretend there aren’t difficult decisions we’re going to have to make, and we have to find a way of delivering social justice in these tough times.”