Member News
By Tony Grew - 28th September 2010
Ed Miliband has said that Labour will learn the lessons from its defeat and beat the coalition government at the next election.
In his keynote speech to conference, his first since his election as party leader on Saturday, he said Labour had a "very bad result" in the May general election.
He also attacked some of New Labour's policies and attitudes in government.
"The most important word in politics for us is humility," he said.
"We need to learn some painful truths about where we went wrong and how we lost touch.
"We must not blame the electorate for ending up with a government we don't like, we should blame ourselves.
"We have to understand why people felt they couldn't support us.
"We have to show we understand the problems people face today.
"This will require strong leadership.
"It won't always be easy. You might not always like what I have to say.
"But you've elected me leader and lead I will."
Miliband had strong words for the unions, who "bear a heavy responsibility".
"We need to win the public to our cause and what we must avoid at all costs is alienating them and adding to the book of historic union failures.
"That is why I have no truck, and you should have no truck, with overblown rhetoric about waves of irresponsible strikes."
The new leader also backed a living wage and attacked high pay, but said those who can work "have a responsibility to do so".
He challenged the "benefits trap" and said reform should "transform lives".
Miliband said the "hard truth" is that Labour lost five million votes between 1997 and 2010 because they "became the prisoner of its own certainties".
"The world was changing all around us - from global finance to immigration to terrorism - New Labour, a political force founded on its ability to adapt and change, lost its ability to do so.
"The reason was that we too often bought old, establis hed ways of thinking and over time we just looked more and more like a new establishment.
"You saw the worst financial crisis in a generation, and I understand your anger that Labour hadn't changed the old ways in the City which said deregulation was the answer.
"You wanted your concerns about the impact of immigration on communities to be heard, and I understand your frustration that we didn't seem to be on your side.
"And when you wanted to make it possible for your kids to get on in life, I understand why you felt that we were stuck in old thinking about higher and higher levels of personal debt, including from tuition fees.
"You saw jobs disappear and economic security undermined, I understand your anger at a Labour government that claimed it could end boom and bust.
"And I understand also that the promise of new politics of 1997 came to look hollow after the scandal of MPs' expenses.
"And we came to look like a new establishment in the company we kept, the style of our politics and our remoteness from people.
"I stand before you, clear in my task: to once again make Labour a force that takes on established thinking, doesn't succumb to it, speaks for the majority and shapes the centre ground of politics."
Miliband told the party faithful he is serious about reducing the deficit but wants it done "in a way that learns the basic lessons of economics, fairness and history".
He said he relishes the chance to take on David Cameron.
"We may be of a similar age, but in my values and ideals I am of a different and new generation.
"When I disagree with the government, as on the deficit, I will say so loud and clear and I will take the argument to them.
"But when Ken Clarke says we need to look at short sentences in prison because of high re-offending rates, I'm not going to say he's soft on crime.
"When Theresa May says we should review stop and search laws to prevent excessive use of state power, I'm not going to say she is soft on terrorism.
"This will be a one term government, that is the purpose of my leadership."
He also said he will support the AV referendum and will vote yes.
At the start of his speech he paid an emotional tribute to his parents, Jews who spent the second world war in hiding from the Nazis.
"My love for this country comes from this story," he said.
"Two young people fled the darkness that had engulfed the Jews across Europe and in Britain they found the light of liberty.
"They arrived with nothing. This country gave them everything.
"It gave them life and the things that make life worth living: hope, friendship, opportunity and family."
Miliband also said his brother David, who he beat to the leadership in an extremely tight race, is "an extraordinary person" who had acted with graciousness in defeat.
David is expected to announce he will not seek election to the shadow cabinet and will instead return to the backbenches.
Article Comments
The speech provides a first glimpse for the British people of a great new leader, who is humble, honest, dignified and is not afraid to take on vested interests of all kind for a better Britain.
GMB
29th Sep 2010 at 11:52 am
Labour's centre forward just scored a hat- trick. Ed is the new signing to relegate the Tories.
This was a speech worthy of the next Prime Minister and it's why Unite backed him. Ed's humanity is the antidote to David Cameron's callous attack on working families. As Ed grows in stature the ConDems will look increasingly insincere and disconnected.
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary
28th Sep 2010 at 3:56 pm
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.