GRAY GETS RED FACE FROM ED

For immediate use: Tuesday 28th September 2010


Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


BACKING FOR TORY CUTS WILL HANG OVER LABOUR


Ed Miliband's support for the SNP's reform of prison policy has left Iain
Gray red faced and humiliated.


In his first speech Ed Miliband backed the SNP on
• Reforming short sentences to tackle reoffending
• Taking action to increase the price of alcohol


He also pulled the rug from Iain Gray by admitting that a Labour would not
only have made painful cuts in public spending, but a Labour opposition
will vote for Tory cuts in public spending.


Responding to the speech SNP Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon said:


“Ed Miliband has left Iain Gray Red faced and humiliated.


“This speech will leave Iain Gray utterly embarrassed after Labour’s new
leader backed the SNP’s approach to short sentences and reoffending and
supported action to tackle the low price of alcohol.


“Labour MSPs oppositionist approach of flinging insults around has been
called out by their new boss with his explicit support for changes to
short sentences to tackle reoffending, a policy Scottish Labour voted
against only three months ago.


“Ed Miliband isn’t promoting Iain Gray he’s putting him in his place."


Commenting on Ed Miliband’s announcement that Labour will back Tory cuts
in Westminster Ms Sturgeon added:


“Ed Miliband once said there was no difference between Labour and the
Tories. The eventual admission that Labour would have delivered painful
cuts in Government and will vote for Tory cuts in opposition will hang
over Iain Gray’s head all the way to election day.


“At the next election voters will face the choice between an experienced
SNP Government led by Alex Salmond putting the priorities of the Scottish
people first against an inexperienced Labour party led by a man who lacks
the support of Labour’s new leader.”


1. In his speech today Ed Miliband said


“when Ken Clarke says we need to look at short sentences in prison
because of high re-offending rates, I'm not going to say he's soft on
crime.”


2. He also highlighted the importance of tackling alcohol pricing to
support local pubs a move that could be achieved through minimum pricing,
but not by Labour’s ineffective tax plans – saying “And we must be on the
side of those who are dismayed by the undermining of the local pub with
cut-price alcohol from supermarkets.”


3. On cuts – he unfortunately backed the Tories saying:


“There will be cuts and there would have been if we had been in
government. Some of them will be painful and would have been if we were in
government.


I won't oppose every cut the coalition proposes.


There will be some things the coalition does that we won't like as a
party but we will have to support.


And come the next election there will be some things they have done that
I will not be able to reverse.”