Miliband warns Tory infighting
Battle to succeed Cameron will force Conservatives to Right, says Labour
BORIS JOHNSON and other senior Tories will swing to the Right ahead of a referendum on Britain’s EU membership as they fight it out to succeed David Cameron as leader, Ed Miliband argued today.
The Labour leader said the Prime Minister’s planned referendum on EU membership in 2017 would coincide with manoeuvring by leadership contenders who may include Mr Johnson, British businesses, amid uncertainty over whether the UK would remain in the European Union.
Opposing Mr Cameron’s proposed referendum, Mr Miliband was due to warn today: “At the same time, he promises a leadership contest in the Conservative Party to succeed him when candidates will be vying against each other for who can be the most extreme on Europe.”
Speaking to business leaders in central London, he was set to add: “It is a recipe for two years of uncertainty, in which inward investment will drain away, two years of chaos in which businesses will not be able to plan for the future and two years of wasted opportunities for progress, for profit, for prosperity: a clear and present danger to British jobs, British business and British prosperity.”
Mr Cameron has said that if he wins a second term as prime minister, he will not seek a third term in power, sparking speculation over how soon he would stand down before the 2020 general election.
Mr Miliband issued his warning over Europe as he sought to appeal to businesses, or at least defuse opposition to Labour from some bosses, as formal general election campaigning began.
Business leaders have raised concerns over his plans for the economy, his call for “responsible capitalism” and measures including Labour’s proposed freeze on gas and electricity bills and a new bank bonus levy.
However, Mr Miliband urged bosses to back a “partnership for a purpose between government and business”.
Its aim would be “supporting you to c reate long-lasting prosperit y that reaches right across our society — from your firms to all of our front doors”.
While seeking to balance Britain’s books, the key goals would be “creating higher living standards for working families” and “inspiring hope for young people”.
Mr Miliband was due to add: “We need to be a country that rewards your hard work again, not what we have seen over the last five years where wages fall behind bills. We need to be a country that gives a future to all our sons and daughters. Not what we have seen over the last five years, where young people fear a worse life than their parents.”