Ed fired up over 2.5pc hike in VAT

OUR leader . . . Ed Miliband is flanked by Debbie Abrahams and Labour activists

Election 2011

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband urged Oldham voters to send the Government a message as he blasted today’s VAT rise.

The national spotlight fell on Oldham as Mr Miliband used a campaigning visit to warn the VAT increase of 2.5 per cent to 20 per cent was the “wrong tax at the wrong time.”

He said while the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election on January 13 was a three-way fight it was a two-way fight for the direction of the country as he merged the Lib-Dems and Tories together to attack broken promises, cuts and the VAT rise.

Mr Miliband said the coalition Government’s cuts went too far and too fast and were recklessly putting 250,000 jobs and the economic recovery at risk.

Asked what Labour would do instead, he told the Chronicle: “We would cut the deficit more slowly and at a more cautious pace.”

And asked how important the election is to Labour and his leadership, he replied: “It is most of all important for people in Oldham East and Saddleworth to send a message to this Government, as the first people in Britain to have that chance, to say we don’t think the Government is right in making these cuts and raising VAT.”

The by-election is a result of shamed Labour MP Phil Woolas being stripped of the seat for lying about his Lib-Dem opponent in election materials.

Lib-Dems leader Nick Clegg had called for Mr Miliband to apologise for what happened.

Asked if he would, Mr Miliband told the Chronicle: “I regret what happened but the people of Oldham are looking forward and want the right MP.”

The Labour leader gave a speech from his party’s campaign office in Lees Road, Mumps, yesterday in front of hundreds of Labour activists and the national media, which was beamed live on BBC News 24. Mr Miliband went on the campaign trail handing out leaflets. It had been planned for him to go doorknocking in Holts to drum up support but the event was cancelled when BNP activists turned up and used loudspeakers to broadcast its message. Mr Miliband said he would be back in Oldham and Lib-Dems Nick Clegg, Tim Farron, Charles Kennedy, Simon Hughes and three ministers are set to visit this week.