Ed Miliband will declare that One Nation Labour will remain relentlessly focused in 2014 on dealing with the cost-of-living crisis so it can make life better for families now and for Britain in the future.
His New Year message has been produced as a short film in which he says ordinary families are facing a once-in-a-generation cost-of-living crisis. He says their struggles will be his chief concern in 2014.
“We are in the midst of the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Whether it’s people being unable to afford the weekly shop or worried about the gas and electric bill - or saying ‘I have always thought of myself as reasonably well off but I’m really having trouble making ends meet’. People are thinking they have made the sacrifices - and the Government keeps telling them that everything is fixed. But it does not seem fixed to them. Surely we can do better than this as a country.”
He says that David Cameron and the Conservative Party will want to change the focus of politics away from such issues in 2014 because they are part of the problem, not the solution.
“The Tories want to change the conversation from the cost of living crisis. They will talk about anything else. Inherent in their vision is not a solution to the cost of living crisis, but the problem. I have a much more optimistic vision about what the country can achieve.”
He says that people are looking for practical measures which can help solve Britain’s problems and he describes how One Nation Labour’s policies – fully funded and costed – are emerging as a real programme for government.
“People do not want the earth. They would much prefer some very specific promises, specific things about what a government will do - whether it’s freezing energy bills, taking action on pay day lenders, or tackling issues around childcare which lots of working parents face. All of this is adding up to a programme for how we can change things. It’s clearly costed, it’s credible and it’s real.”
He describes how, in 2014, One Nation Labour will show it has a plan for Britain to earn and grow our way to a better standard of living for the future.
“We are going to show to people in 2014 how by standing up for the right people, by being willing to take on the powerful interests and make big changes in our economy, we can deal with the cost of living crisis both now and in the future so that we can earn and grow our way to a higher standard of living for people.”
He explains how that will help ordinary families now – and help Britain build a better future for the next generation.
“I think that matters so much to people. It matters so much now for people who cannot afford to pay their gas bill or do the weekly shop. And it matters so much for the future too because so many people are thinking what future is there in this country for kids, my son or daughter, my niece or nephew, how are we going to make a difference for them?”
He underlines his determination to fight for ordinary families, back our NHS, and work for a better Britain in 2014.
“Every morning I get up I’m going to be thinking about you, about how I can make your life better, your life easier - no easy answers - not an easy life - but how do we tip the balance towards hope and away from the struggles that you are facing.”
In addition to his message for the whole of the UK, Mr Miliband has also recorded a message for the people of Scotland ahead of a year in which they will vote in a referendum on separating from the rest of the UK.
He says there are common problems requiring common solutions across the UK.
“The problem of high energy bills is a problem in Southampton as well as in Stirling. The problem of pay day lenders is a problem in Gloucester and Glasgow. The problem of low pay is a problem in Essex as well as Edinburgh. These are common problems and we can solve these problems with a common vision and a common future.
He says the vote in September will be a key moment in determining whether Scotland can have a better future together with the UK.
“It is a decision for the people of Scotland but it is an issue I care passionately about. The Nationalists want to give up on social justice in the United Kingdom. I’m not giving on that. I’m going to show in 2014 how we are better together –how we can achieve social justice in Scotland and within the UK.”
ENDS