News / Politics

Former Labour leader speaks as backbench MP

Thursday, 04 June 2015 5:26 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 04 June 2015 5:27 PM ]

Miliband addresses the Commons as backbench MP.

Ed Miliband has addressed the House of Commons for the first time since resigning as the Labour Party leader.

This was the first time in nine years that Miliband spoke on inequality while sitting among backbench MPs.

Miliband expressed deep disappointment about Labour’s loss in the election but said he has no intention of stepping away from front-line politics.

While taking part in the Queen’s speech debate on the economy on Thursday, Miliband adopted a conciliatory tone towards the government. He congratulated Chancellor of Exchequers, George Osborne for the achievement during his five-year tenure and welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s “one nation” pledge.

Miliband also called on the government to take the issue of inequality seriously. “Internationally and across the political spectrum, I believe what has changed these gaps are not just bad for the poor but bad for all of us.”

Miliband did not miss to raise questions on Cameron’s one-nation credentials: “Can ‘one nation’ be squared with a welfare system which is so often harsh, brutal and brutalizing? Can ‘one nation’ be squared with a country where one million people go to food banks?

Miliband’s comments received applaud from across the party lines. Some Conservative MPs also paid tribute to the former Labour leader despite a highly personal campaign against his character during the elections.

SKL/SKL

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