I will fight the powerful forces who are out to get me, says Ed
ED MILIBAND yesterday rounded on the ‘powerful forces’ and ‘vested interests’ he believes are plotting to stop him entering Downing Street.
In a highly charged speech designed to draw a line under weeks of turmoil i n Labour ranks, Mr Miliband ri sked accusations of paranoia as he insisted: ‘When powerful forces try to tell me “No way”, I answer: “Who says?”
‘I’m willing to put up with whatever is thrown at me.’
Mr Miliband’s speech in London amounted to a passionate defence of his ability to lead his party and the country after some discontented Labour MPs suggested privately he should be replaced.
The Labour leader’s personal ratings this week plunged to a record low – below even those of Michael Foot, the party’s least successful leader – and one poll put the Conservatives three points ahead.
Although only 13 per cent of people think he is up to being prime minister, Mr Miliband insisted he had the ‘resilience’ and ‘thick skin’ to do the job.
He promised to talk more about the issue of immigration – which he forgot to mention in his disastrous party conference speech, along with the deficit – and attacked firms for ‘exploiting’ cheap migrant labour to undercut wages of British workers.
He also launched a fierce attack on Ukip, which has eaten into Labour’s core working-class vote in some areas, suggesting the party was prejudiced against working
‘We can take
this lot’
women, foreigners and gays and lesbians.
Mr Miliband pledged to tackle a ‘zero-zero economy’, saying many ordinary workers were on so-called zero-hours contracts while the rich ‘get away with zero tax’.
‘The Tories have no answers to the discontent people feel,’ he said. ‘Ukip have wildly wrong answers to that discontent. And who knows what one can say about the Liberal Democrats?’ Quoting a phrase used by Tony Blair in his farewell conference speech in 2006, he insisted: ‘Friends, I say we can take this lot apart – and it is time we did.’
Mr Miliband added: ‘No vested interest, whoever they are and however powerful they are, from banks to energy companies, should ever be able to hold our country back.’
Aides suggest a shadowy network of City institutions, energy companies, media magnates, payday lenders and hedge funds is determined to stop him winning power.
They insisted Mr Miliband did not blame them for his difficulties, but he was determined to confront powerful establishment figures.
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, touted as a potential l eader, said Mr Miliband was prepared to ‘stand up for ordinary people against vested interests’. ‘That is what has defined his leader- ship of the Labour Party, against energy companies... against the banks, and yes, against parts of the media,’ he said. ‘And for those reasons there are people out there who don’t want him to win.’
Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps said: ‘Ed Miliband and those in his bunker may have convinced themselves his difficulties are all the result of some sort of conspiracy. But the truth is, it’s the voters he has the real problem with.’
A Tory source added: ‘I’m surprised Ed Miliband wasn’t wearing a tin-foil hat today. His conspiracy theories are out of control.’
Ukip leader Nigel Farage last night responded to Mr Miliband’s attacks by challenging him to a live TV debate, telling the Labour leader: ‘Come and have a go.’