Labour Leader Miliband Defines New Centre Ground In British Politics
Followng the phone hacking scandal at News International, Labour leader Ed Milibandstaked out the new centre ground for British politics.
Pressed by Andrew Mar (The am show, BBC 1) on the extent to which his leadership represents a break from Blair´s New Labour, Miliband said "in 1992 there was one centre ground, in 2011 there is a new centre ground.
" Miliband implied that he speaks for the majority of a British public that is tired of repeated stories of corruption and malpractice at the highest levels in UK society.
The interview follows an extraordinary week in press circles which culminated in the closing of a major British newspaper institution, The News of the World (last issue printed on 10th July 2011), amid allegations of phone hacking.
After the bad news stories of MP´s expenses, the subprime debacle and bankers´greed, the idea that there is something sickeningly wrong at the heart of Britain´s press may be the straw that breaks the camel´s back.
Miliband called for a new body with more power to replace the toothless Press Complaints Commission.
The PCC were apparently lied to by News of the World owners News International and could do nothing about it.
News International, which comes under the umbrella of mogul Rupert Murdoch´s publishing empire News Corps, is now under closer scrutiny and subject to a wide-ranging review of practices.
Miliband admitted that Labour leaders in the past had been too close to Murdoch and that events this week signal that we are now living in a new world where change must come about to loosen the ties that bind UK politicians to any single publishing group.
Murdoch has in the past been called the "Kingmaker" of British politics, but Miliband, adopting a courageous stance and taking the initiative in decoupling from the intricate political relationship with NI, called for Murdoch to pull out of his planned takeover of BSkyB in the autumn which would be ethically unacceptable given the recent allegations.
The ball now rests with Prime Minister David Cameron, who continues to back the takeover.
Cameron has been criticized for some time for recruiting former NOTW employee Andy Coulson, who is at the centre of the phone hacking claims.
Many have thought Miliband too reticent in the past in his criticism of the government, but the interview this morning shows he has ruthless political instincts, brilliant timing and courage when needed.
His comments will have struck a chord with many viewers, particularly his demands for accountability throughout all the concentrations of power in the land.
This is where the new centre ground lies.
He summed this up by saying, "Yes, we want fairness on benefits, but we also want fairness in the boardroom.
"
Pressed by Andrew Mar (The am show, BBC 1) on the extent to which his leadership represents a break from Blair´s New Labour, Miliband said "in 1992 there was one centre ground, in 2011 there is a new centre ground.
" Miliband implied that he speaks for the majority of a British public that is tired of repeated stories of corruption and malpractice at the highest levels in UK society.
The interview follows an extraordinary week in press circles which culminated in the closing of a major British newspaper institution, The News of the World (last issue printed on 10th July 2011), amid allegations of phone hacking.
After the bad news stories of MP´s expenses, the subprime debacle and bankers´greed, the idea that there is something sickeningly wrong at the heart of Britain´s press may be the straw that breaks the camel´s back.
Miliband called for a new body with more power to replace the toothless Press Complaints Commission.
The PCC were apparently lied to by News of the World owners News International and could do nothing about it.
News International, which comes under the umbrella of mogul Rupert Murdoch´s publishing empire News Corps, is now under closer scrutiny and subject to a wide-ranging review of practices.
Miliband admitted that Labour leaders in the past had been too close to Murdoch and that events this week signal that we are now living in a new world where change must come about to loosen the ties that bind UK politicians to any single publishing group.
Murdoch has in the past been called the "Kingmaker" of British politics, but Miliband, adopting a courageous stance and taking the initiative in decoupling from the intricate political relationship with NI, called for Murdoch to pull out of his planned takeover of BSkyB in the autumn which would be ethically unacceptable given the recent allegations.
The ball now rests with Prime Minister David Cameron, who continues to back the takeover.
Cameron has been criticized for some time for recruiting former NOTW employee Andy Coulson, who is at the centre of the phone hacking claims.
Many have thought Miliband too reticent in the past in his criticism of the government, but the interview this morning shows he has ruthless political instincts, brilliant timing and courage when needed.
His comments will have struck a chord with many viewers, particularly his demands for accountability throughout all the concentrations of power in the land.
This is where the new centre ground lies.
He summed this up by saying, "Yes, we want fairness on benefits, but we also want fairness in the boardroom.
"
