Tony Blair and Gordon Brown did not do enough to rein in the rich and powerful, Ed Miliband concedes, as he urges his party to “move on” from New Labour.
Edward Samuel Miliband, the Labour leader, spotted the massive impact the immigration had as a key public concern which the last government failed to recognise, and a reason why Mr Brown lost the election.
Mr Miliband will praise the achievements of New Labour’s 13 years in power, especially the investment in schools and hospitals that gave “millions” of people “better lives”.
However, in a speech to the Fabian Society in London, Mr Miliband wants to prove that Labour itself is changing and declare that his party has “learnt the lessons” from the financial crisis.
The speech to the Fabian society in London is likely to be seen as an attempt by the Labour leader to distance himself from the party’s record under Mr Brown and Mr Blair.
In the financial crisis, Mr Brown’s economic policies are still regarded as a weakness and Labor party thinks they had not done enough to restore its economic credibility among voters.
Mr Miliband will concede that Labour lost touch before losing power. “By the time we left office, too many people of Britain didn’t feel as if the Labour Party was open to their influence, or listening to them,” he will say. “We have to move on from New Labour, as well as from this government.”
“New Labour was too timid in enforcing rights and responsibilities, especially at the top, and it was too sanguine about the consequences of the rampant free markets, which we know can threaten to undermine our common life.”
“We need to do more to create a society where everyone genuinely plays their part.”
New Labour “did not do enough” to make the economy deliver prosperity to the majority who do not earn “millions” and may not have university degrees, he will say.
Mr Miliband also candidly admits shortcomings in Labour’s handling of immigration policy.
Mr Brown was infamously overheard describing a voter who raised concerns over migration during the 2010 election campaign as a “bigoted woman”.
Mr Miliband suggested his former leader’s unwillingness to listen to the public’s concerns had cost the party votes.
“High levels of migration were having huge effects on the lives of people in Britain and too often those in power seemed not to accept this,” he will say.
Labour must “build trust and new relationships” in every part of Britain, and be prepared to address local issues such as the growing number of betting shops dominating high streets and the boom in payday loan companies.
