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Ed Miliband Warns Of Crisis In Politics As Leaders Discover The Only Way Is Essex

PA/The Huffington Post  |  Posted: 08/05/2012 11:29 Updated: 08/05/2012 11:39

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Ed Miliband has warned of a "crisis of politics" and has admitted all politicians need to do more to win back people's trust.

He and coalition leaders Nick Clegg and David Cameron travelled to Essex on Tuesday in a fresh bid to rebuild confidence after last week's local elections.

Speaking in Harlow, Essex, where his party seized control in last week's encouraging council elections, Labour leader Miliband said he wanted to "reach out" to the more than two-thirds of voters who did not turn out to cast their ballot.

Miliband said he was happy with Labour's result but admitted: "I know we have a lot more to do to rebuild that trust."

Pointing to figures showing that 71% of people in Harlow did not vote on Thursday, he said: "I want to reach out and understand why you don't trust any politicians, why you don't believe any of us can answer the questions that you are facing in your life.

"I think there is a crisis of politics in this country, there is a crisis of people thinking 'I'm not going to engage with politics, you're all the same, you all break your promises'."

The Labour leader said aspiration was being "blunted" by the coalition Government and insisted his party could "make a difference", adding: "We can offer people change."

His comments, at a question-and-answer session with members of the public, came ahead of an expected appearance in Essex by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg later today.

"What people want from them is answers not excuses, not excuses blaming something else, not excuses blaming the eurozone, but answers about why they promised change and things have got worse not better," he said.

Miliband said Cameron and Clegg needed to learn from the election results, in which the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each lost hundreds of council seats, that "economic failure with unfairness piled on top is not the answer".

"They promised change, they promised an economy that would grow and things have got worse not better.

"And they promised fairness, they promised that we were all in it together, and things have got worse not better because they are standing up for the wrong people not the right people."

Reacting to last week's election drubbing, Cameron said on Monday that he got the message from voters "loud and clear".

"The message people are sending is this: focus on what matters, deliver what you promise - and prove yourself in the process. I get it," he said.

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Ed Miliband has warned of a "crisis of politics" and has admitted all politicians need to do more to win back people's trust. He and coalition leaders Nick Clegg and David Cameron travelled to Ess...
Ed Miliband has warned of a "crisis of politics" and has admitted all politicians need to do more to win back people's trust. He and coalition leaders Nick Clegg and David Cameron travelled to Ess...
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This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
04:44 PM on 05/09/2012
I hear up to 400,000 Socialist Workers are about to go on strike. Someone should tell 'em that its a contradiction in terms!
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BigH2000
4 Fans
03:12 PM on 05/09/2012
The "Crisis" will only iccur if Miliband or any of his labour cronies become prime minister!!!!!!!
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
02:34 PM on 05/09/2012
They should tell everyone before the next general election how much we are all individually liable for to cover the costs of Labour running up the biggest government debt in history. We need to know this so we can put our cross in the right box on the ballot paper. Is it £80,000 each or what? (the what covers those who think the world owes them a living and have never had a job in their lives)!
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ccraiglamont
Sometimes funny, other times...not!
153 Fans
02:11 PM on 05/09/2012
Ed, how about this to start with:
1. Bring the troops back from around the world to protect our own country instead of dominating others.
2. Wrest control back from the power companies or set up a new national company and build new power stations using British workers and expertise.
3. Negotiate a temporary withdrawal from the European union until it gets its house in order.
4. Raise the introductory tax threshold to £12,500 and by inflation every year after.
5. Set a maximum capital threshold which is activated at xx millions and takes 75% tax on anything above it.
6. Close our borders to immigration.
7. Stop being soft on crime and start making prison a deterrent.
8. Get proper control over the public sector and ensure it and any linked pension schemes are affordable.
9. Make public transport easier and more affordable.
10. Tell the truth!!!
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
02:36 PM on 05/09/2012
10. Tell the truth - should be No 1 on your list!
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ccraiglamont
Sometimes funny, other times...not!
153 Fans
08:23 AM on 05/10/2012
This isn't even a 'wish' list, this is a list of things that NEED doing, irrespective of party colours. Unfortunately none of todays wishy washy politicians have the spine nor the inclination to actually act on behalf of the electorate instead of their party sponsors.
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tripcony
45 Fans
03:07 PM on 05/09/2012
thats a very big list...do you think Ed can count to 10? might have to use his fingers on that one
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BigH2000
4 Fans
03:15 PM on 05/09/2012
Yes - both of them !!!!
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vigorniensis
0 Fans
01:12 PM on 05/09/2012
You "keyboard warriors" are wasting your time and energy. If you want to change Westminster and Whitehall then stat6 taking appropriate action, keyboards are part of the solution!
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
11:30 AM on 05/09/2012
A crisis in politics reflected in the fact that only three people in every ten people turned out to vote. Just imagine how many people will turn out to vote once they know the size of the government debt inherited from labour that they are bresponsible for: equivalent to something like £80,000 for every man, woman and child in the UK. But of course, some people think the world owes them a living and have never worked in their lives. So that will probably bump the numbers up to £100,000 for every man, woman and child in the UK.
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Roger Cottrell
95 Fans
11:00 AM on 05/09/2012
How to end a crisis in politics? End the monolothic domination of Thatcherite policies over 30+ years in which there have no significant ideological differences between all the major parties since Niel Kinnock replaced Michael Foot. End belief in politicians as well as trust. Transform the population from passive consumers of politics into active participants through direct action and councils of action. Put pressure on Labour to deliver real social transformation after we have brought down the present passle of scum.
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vigorniensis
0 Fans
01:09 PM on 05/09/2012
Don't you bloody soicalists ever learn the evil of your ways?
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
02:38 PM on 05/09/2012
Like Gordon Brown, they are still in denial!
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Roger Cottrell
95 Fans
04:28 PM on 05/09/2012
We havn't bloody started yet!
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BigH2000
4 Fans
03:17 PM on 05/09/2012
Pr*t
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Belthazor A
12 Fans
09:16 AM on 05/09/2012
Last comment I put on was a bit forthright, deliberately opinionated but no bad language, it was however critcal of E Miliband and those like him; the 'old lady' who reviews these comments removed it, guess she is an Ed Miliband supporter and agrees with the nonsense being peddled by the labour party who have caused so many problems. I don't necessarily think the Tories are always right either, but they do at least try to find a sort of solution, and admit to difficulties, unlike the spin we used to get........and I agree with those who are critical of the banking system. A lot of families are finding it really hard, and it is rough when they hear about bankers getting huge bonuses and politicians talking about 'their' personal priorities yet not really addressing the important issues. If you were a teenager without an inheritance to look forward to, without family connections, but you wanted to go to university, didn't want to have debt, how would you feel now? The rise in house prices exporting jobs, every time something went abroad you heard the phrase ,'we are part of a global economy'. New Labour, more than the Tories, left this legacy for us. So Mr Miliband where do your policies begin?
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
11:37 AM on 05/09/2012
It was probably removed because a labour supporter complained about it. They are a sensitive lot, especially after Labour ran up the biggest government debt in history. The government does not have any money of its own, an ex minster left a note saying they had spent it all and the cupboard was bare, so the people are liable for labour's debt. That probably works out at £80,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. But some people think that the world owes them a living and have never worked in their lives. That probably bumps the numbers up to £100,000 for every man, woman and child in the UK.
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Dombeyandson
53 Fans
 
08:34 AM on 05/09/2012
Pointing to figures showing that 71% of people in Harlow did not vote on Thursday, he said: "I want to reach out and understand why you don't trust any politicians,
The figures speak for themselves. We have consistantly returned minority governments that believe they have a mandate to do as they please yet only 25% of those eligible bother to vote. Doesn't this alone tell you something? Not only do the electorate not trust politicians they don't even like you. We pay your salaries and you tell us how much you will take in expenses on top of making as outrageous claims for additional income as possible to finance a privileged lifestyle. Moreover, youir individual "promises" of reform, change or improvement are fatuous and no better than sales gimmicks and now we have a former PR man as a prime minister. PR men used to be known as Exploitations Officers until they established PR companies to exploit opportunity. Hype is their central gambit, how to pursuede you to part with your money. Additionally we have the party dogma instead of an MP's intelligent thinking, how they might make and create a little happiness for those less fortunate but unstead MPs pander to the highest bidder in a comprehensive conflict of interest. Then there is the moonlighting whilst we pay you to be MPs you also take on extra curricular activity to swell your income. Such income should mitigate what we pay you to do the job.
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
02:40 PM on 05/09/2012
Well said!
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pyacolfmg
4 Fans
02:34 AM on 05/09/2012
ed is the crisis
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pyacolfmg
4 Fans
02:40 AM on 05/09/2012
ed is a good actress because of th hf verify
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pyacolfmg
4 Fans
02:24 AM on 05/09/2012
yes,you are the 'Crisis' and take money from taxpayer,hypocrite
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Ben Wilson
What's the story mourning Tories?
295 Fans
 
02:12 AM on 05/09/2012
Ed Miliband is a stale old piece of toast. Why is it most party leaders these days look like they'd better running a Tesco. Yes men fresh off a 12 week management course! All the right sounds but 99% content free.

It's like after the results this was basically the message from Clegg and Dave...The voter punished us we heard you (even though we asked no questions and no one has demostably explained why the vote drop) and we have learned (even though we are going to keep on doing exactly the same thing except go back on gay marrage, and probably throw in a tax cut for the rich.
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des lashley
2 Fans
10:54 PM on 05/08/2012
The PM did gives us change, he has put thousands out work, he has helped the rich, he is distroying NHS, you can go on ands on, but he has kept his word, maybe not what we like, but it is change so he has not broken his promise
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dsole1948
159 Fans
09:06 PM on 05/08/2012
The crisis in politics is with us because the people have little choice in picking a government it wants, at any election first past the post always returns a government the majority has voted against. So at no time do the majority of voters have a say in this countries direction, at the same time the chances of anyone with real work experience having gone to a public school or Oxbridge is nil.

So what is offered up at every election these days are drones from the same moulds, same schools, same universities none ever done a day’s hard work in their short lives. Men/women with personality or genuine difference never get past the sorting office of local constituent committee; we get grey men/women with no vigour, no fight and no ideas.

If we all stopped voting between now and the next general election in protest we just might make them understand that we are not happy with the choices on offer. But then again I think they are so full of their own importance that they will still believe they are the chosen ones and the people have no idea what they need. There is no longer a political party identity no matter the flag they are the same, each knowing they are guaranteed the time in government, because so many vote the way their family has always voted. We get the government we deserve because we vote by habit not by common-sense, flag rules all.
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jfoste3
48 Fans
12:18 AM on 05/09/2012
I agree with your comments; I may add the same thing has occurred in America; both political parties are the same, both mired in failure and ignore the people needs, they like the UK politicians serve the needs of special interest, that elite group fund their political campaign.
The Bankers that created the economic mess have escaped punishment, our politicians have given them low interest rate of .50% that is what it cost those Bankers when they borrow from the Bank of England, these Bankers then loan the money at high interest rate and gouge the people for this reason they report profits by the billions and reward their CEO by the millions.
Joseph Foster, Author ‘’Seeing Red’’ ‘How America is losing the future’ Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Red-Joseph-Foster/dp/1613468121/
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dsole1948
159 Fans
07:44 AM on 05/09/2012
There is an arrogance of intelligent in America, they have a strong believe that they above all others in the world have the answers and their institutional education establishments produce a superior individual. In fact the majority of Americans have no understanding of the world outside their state let alone their shores, it’s a continent trapped by the seas lapping its beaches and the power of greed.

People vote in elections because of what they see on TV and what they see depends on how deep the pockets of those paying for the air time, the individual seems unable to see past the gloss. Money and business is the politics fuelling the greed of those in power and those in government are there so long as they bow to the power of money. The reasons Americans fail to impress the world where in places they are despised beyond all other living things, is partly their arrogance but also their greedy everything has its price attitude.

There is nothing real in American politics it’s all money orientated showbiz’s gloss and faults smiles nothing genuine, the money men pay for it and expect to get a return for their input. The end result is America has third world living standards and people starving to death with little healthcare for the desperate within its borders because the money men prefer profit above life.

The UK is going down the same path already power is money and money is power greed governs all.
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
12:15 PM on 05/09/2012
It would not work if we all stopped voting because the political activists who put leaflets through our doors etcwould vote and the media would view every vote as a confirmation of the validity of the political system.
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dsole1948
159 Fans
08:17 PM on 05/09/2012
You are probably right it is a thought I have had but changing political impasses is difficult and the alternative is unthinkable, revolution would be the wrong path to travel down. May be an answer is that we all vote for an independent candidate; no party no political masters the result would be impossible to handle. The queen would have to ask the existing prime minister to resolve the situation and he would not have the mandate to go against the people, an interesting scenario.
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purchaseorder
35 Fans
08:16 PM on 05/08/2012
Politicians have yet to live down the expenses fiasco, it's no wonder the electorate are brassed off.Even under proposed legislation an MP has to be imprisoned for more than 12 months to be sacked as an MP.
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