Miliband brushes off criticism with promise to change Labour
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
Ed Miliband has downplayed criticism of his leadership, saying he is achieving something "big" in his project to reform the Labour party.
The Labour leader, who has endured weeks of whispers about his leadership, told the Andrew Marr programme he was setting the political agenda and positioning Labour for success.
"This is part of the gig of being leader of opposition. You get criticism, you get advice – that's what happens," he said.
"There's something deeper here. We're changing the Labour party. The process of change is always a hard process."
Mr Miliband argued that his position on 'irresponsible' capitalism – originally written off as left-wing – was now part of the lexicon of government ministers.
"We are winning the battle of ideas," he said.
"Why is David Cameron coming onto my ground? He can't deliver on my agenda. He knows I'm talking about the right issues.
"That's a sign I'm on the right themes. And this is big. This is about reshaping our society."
Asked about comments from adviser Lord Glasman which described Mr Miliband as having "no strategy and little energy", the Labour leader joked: "I'm rather for an elected House Of Lords after Lord Glasman".
He added: "That's not what the leadership business is about. The leadership business is about winning the battle of ideas.
"I'm very clear about who I am, what I stand for and where we want to take the country. Opposition leaders face these times, the question is how you face them."
Mr Miliband's much-hyped speech on economic policy last week, in which he accepted that there would be constraints to Labour spending policies if it returned to power in 2015, failed to significantly change the leader's fortunes.
Yesterday, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said it was 'inevitable' public sector pay restraint would have to continue, prompting anger from the left of the party and trade unionists.
"Labour cannot duck that reality – and we won't. Jobs must be our priority before higher pay," Mr Balls said.
Both events were intended to counter the accusation that Labour cannot be trusted with the economy.
Despite a stagnant economy and George Osborne being forced to borrow even more money than Alistair Darling had forecast, polls continue too show that voters trust Mr Cameron and George Osborne more than the Miliband-Balls team on economic management.
