Looking back at the leaders conference speeches by Ed Miliband and David Cameron tell us a lot both about the two party leaders themselves and about the priorities of a future government.
Ed started by thanking his partner Justine, Dave mentioned that his wife ran a small business, which must have been pretty straightforward to set up when Dad is a millionaire.
There was a contrast in styles, there is no argument that Ed is an impressive public speaker, he delivered his conference speech in his now trademark style; on an X-factor type stage with no notes and no auto-cue. Dave read his speech from a lectern, the delivery was super confident, often staring straight down the TV camera lens and pointing his finger. One pro Labour commentator tweeted that "Ed Miliband has changed the accepted norm for conference speeches Cameron was dull, slow paced and dated"
Ed attacked current Tory policy and the lack of growth. Dave attacked Labour, persisting with the "mess Labour left" and pleading with the country to let him "finish the job" There was not a trace of humility or even an acknowledgement that Tory policies are not currently working 'for hardworking people'
The media focus was on Labours energy price freeze. The Tory plan to stop social security payments to anyone under the age of 25 will grab the headlines. There are are questions to be answered about both policies. Will the energy companies, who made profits of £3.7Bn this year, really hold the a Labour Government to ransom by threatening power cuts? Would a Tory government really stop housing benefit payments to a 23 year old single parent?
The difference in the priorities of the two main parties is now clear:
Tories remain the party supported by and supporting big business. Cameron insisted that profit is not a dirty word. Ed made a distinction between small and large businesses: Labour will increase corporation tax but reduce business rates for small and medium sized companies. This redistribution is quite logical as if you add all the people employed in small businesses they vastly outnumber those employed by huge corporations.
Ed is on the side of the consumer when it comes to energy prices. Dave remains on the side of the energy companies, relaxing their green energy targets.
Ed is humble about the past mistakes of Labour Government, Dave remains arrogant and bullish pointing out that everything is up, up, up! but failing to mention that the cost of living is also up, up up and wages for everyone other than bankers are down, down, down.
The has been some interest in these conference speeches from people other than politics geeks. Political commentators are saying that at least you can tell the difference between the two parties again. The greens are against fracking, even in the 'desolate North' which is a sensible and popular standpoint. Despite the 'rise' of UKIP, Europe was not high on the Tory agenda. The Libdem conference was spent hedging bets: The leadership are hoping for another coalition, the grassroots are hoping for a miracle.
The next general election will be hard fought, we have seen the Daily Mail stoop so low to attack a party leaders late Father. Tory spin consultant Lynton Crosby will ensure that the fight will be fought in the gutter of politics.
New Labour is dead. Compassionate Conservatism is being killed off. I am hopeful for change. I don't want the Tories to finish their job of making the rich so rich that the poor might, by chance, be pulled out of poverty by osmosis. It is Labour who should be given the chance to build an economy that works for all.
Ed started by thanking his partner Justine, Dave mentioned that his wife ran a small business, which must have been pretty straightforward to set up when Dad is a millionaire.
There was a contrast in styles, there is no argument that Ed is an impressive public speaker, he delivered his conference speech in his now trademark style; on an X-factor type stage with no notes and no auto-cue. Dave read his speech from a lectern, the delivery was super confident, often staring straight down the TV camera lens and pointing his finger. One pro Labour commentator tweeted that "Ed Miliband has changed the accepted norm for conference speeches Cameron was dull, slow paced and dated"
Ed attacked current Tory policy and the lack of growth. Dave attacked Labour, persisting with the "mess Labour left" and pleading with the country to let him "finish the job" There was not a trace of humility or even an acknowledgement that Tory policies are not currently working 'for hardworking people'
The media focus was on Labours energy price freeze. The Tory plan to stop social security payments to anyone under the age of 25 will grab the headlines. There are are questions to be answered about both policies. Will the energy companies, who made profits of £3.7Bn this year, really hold the a Labour Government to ransom by threatening power cuts? Would a Tory government really stop housing benefit payments to a 23 year old single parent?
The difference in the priorities of the two main parties is now clear:
Tories remain the party supported by and supporting big business. Cameron insisted that profit is not a dirty word. Ed made a distinction between small and large businesses: Labour will increase corporation tax but reduce business rates for small and medium sized companies. This redistribution is quite logical as if you add all the people employed in small businesses they vastly outnumber those employed by huge corporations.
Ed is on the side of the consumer when it comes to energy prices. Dave remains on the side of the energy companies, relaxing their green energy targets.
Ed is humble about the past mistakes of Labour Government, Dave remains arrogant and bullish pointing out that everything is up, up, up! but failing to mention that the cost of living is also up, up up and wages for everyone other than bankers are down, down, down.
The has been some interest in these conference speeches from people other than politics geeks. Political commentators are saying that at least you can tell the difference between the two parties again. The greens are against fracking, even in the 'desolate North' which is a sensible and popular standpoint. Despite the 'rise' of UKIP, Europe was not high on the Tory agenda. The Libdem conference was spent hedging bets: The leadership are hoping for another coalition, the grassroots are hoping for a miracle.
The next general election will be hard fought, we have seen the Daily Mail stoop so low to attack a party leaders late Father. Tory spin consultant Lynton Crosby will ensure that the fight will be fought in the gutter of politics.
New Labour is dead. Compassionate Conservatism is being killed off. I am hopeful for change. I don't want the Tories to finish their job of making the rich so rich that the poor might, by chance, be pulled out of poverty by osmosis. It is Labour who should be given the chance to build an economy that works for all.
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