Miliband team want Tories targeted
Labour is facing its first ‘spin’ row under Ed Miliband, after the party leader told MPs he wanted to do more to address David Cameron’s “broken promises”.
Mr Miliband’s new director of strategy and communications Tom Baldwin attracted criticism for a letter to broadcasters in which he requested that they referred to the coalition as a “Tory-led government” rather than a “coalition”.
Conservative party co-chairman Sayeeda Warsi said the move was a “futile attempt to control the press” which was “pretty desperate” of Mr Miliband.
She added: “It just goes to show that Labour are still up to their old bullying tactics.” Memories in Whitehall of Alastair Campbell’s robust approach to the press have not faded.
The development came after Mr Miliband told last night’s meeting of the parliamentary Labour party that the focus on Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s U-turns was distracting attention from the prime minister.
Knife crime sentencing, fuel duty plans and reforms to the NHS were all identified as vulnerable areas for Mr Cameron.
“While Nick Clegg has been given a hard time, not enough of a spotlight has been shone on the broken promises of David Cameron,” Mr Miliband said.
“We have to go after him on his broken promises.”
The PLP meeting was the first since Labour won the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election last Thursday.
New MP Debbie Abrahams, who held the seat with a majority of over 3,500 despite a strong challenge from the Lib Dems’ Elwyn Watkins, was greeted with applause by her parliamentary colleagues.
