Ed Miliband urges Welsh Labour to vote against 'dogma'

Labour leader Ed Miliband has urged Wales to "send a message" to the rest of the UK at May's assembly election.

Mr Miliband said that under Labour, Wales' devolved administration could show a "better alternative" to the "dogma" of the UK government.

He told Welsh Labour's annual conference in Llandudno he believed in the politics of the "common good".

He also accused Prime Minister David Cameron of wanting to "break apart" the NHS in England.

Mr Miliband said a vote for Labour on 5 May was a "vote for a different way".

He said: "Make no mistake, the result of these elections will send a message across Wales and across the United Kingdom.

"I want to see Carwyn [Jones] back as first minister in a Welsh Labour government in May. That's the best hope for Wales.

“Start Quote

Just like they wanted to sell off the forests to the highest bidder, now they want healthcare sold to the lowest bidder”

End Quote Ed Miliband Labour Party leader

"And for Britain: a Labour Welsh Assembly Government showcasing with every decision it makes how there is a better alternative to the dogma of the Conservative-led government at Westminster."

Labour is using the conference in Llandudno to pledge it will "stand up for Wales", attacking UK government decisions such as the shelved plans for a military training academy at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Making his second visit to Wales in a week, Mr Miliband said that in the assembly government - a coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru - Wales had an administration that "understands the common good" and whose decisions were based on a "quite different vision - a Labour vision" to that in Westminster.

'Promise of Britain'

The planned rise in university tuition fees for students in England was "simply about individuals in a marketplace", he claimed.

Welsh students will avoid the hike under a subsidy being offered by the assembly government.

Everyone should care about whether bright youngsters can get into top universities regardless of their backgrounds, Mr Miliband said.

"That is the promise of Britain, the promise that each generation can do better than the last," he said.

He gave his support to the campaign for a Yes vote in next month's referendum on the assembly's law-making powers, attacking the Conservatives for accepting devolution "through gritted teeth".

The Tories were the "don't know party", he said.

"Or when it comes to Wales and especially the secretary of state: the 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' party," he added in a jibe at Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan.

'Real anger'

David Cameron's vision of a Big Society was based on a smaller state and was a "dangerous ideological mistake", Mr Miliband said.

This week's U-turn on selling off state-owned forests in England was an example of what happens when a government did not understand what mattered to people, he said.

He warned that the ill-feeling over the forests "will be nothing compared to the real anger" Mr Cameron will face in opposition to his "dangerous plans" for the NHS in England.

"Just like they wanted to sell off the forests to the highest bidder, now they want healthcare sold to the lowest bidder."

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley dismissed the criticisms, and said Labour had no vision of their own for the NHS.

LABOUR 4 HIGH SPEED 2 - CAMPAIGN

High Speed is good for growth, capacity and connectivity. It will close the north-south divide, promote green jobs and cut carbon emissions by reducing the need for domestic flights.

Labour should support the development of High Speed Two and wish to see Labour re-commit itself to the project as part of the policy review. It is wrong the Tory-led government only plan to legislate for a small part of the potential route and wish to see them amend the legislation to enable the full potential of Lord Adonis’ planned high-speed network.

Progress with the support of SERA and others, are campaigning for Labour to committee to the future of high-speed rail and call on the Tory-led government to ammend their legislation only allowing high-speed rail extend to Birmingham and so the whole country can reap the benefits of the high-speed network.

Sign the petition now:

Click here to sign our petition.

Promote the campaign:

• Send the following tweet to support the campaign:

#ISupport the @Progressonline #Labour4HighSpeed2 campaign - sign the petition now: http://bit.ly/hNepw8 #Going4Growth

• Use #labour4highspeed2 when promoting the campaign on twitter
• Download a petition to circulate at a local meeting, workplaceor social venue <>
• Pass a motion at your local branch or CLP meeting <>

Labour 4 High Speed 2 Campaign motion

This CLP believes:

• High speed two announced under Labour was a bold, progressive step to a greener, more cohesive and connected Britain and crucial to getting the uk economy growing again
• High speed 2 is best placed to lead a revolution in green jobs and cuts carbons by reducing the need for domestic flights.
• The benefits of high speed 2 go beyond speed and carbon reduction and include the connectivity and capacity currently denied by the Victorian infrastructure of the current network.

This CLP resolves:

• To support the Labour 4 high speed 2 campaign, which urges Labour to recommit to high speed 2 in our policy review
• To circulate the petition around CLP members encouraging them to show their support
• Contact the campaign organisers and provide a quote for their campaign site from the appropriate CLP officer.

Thank you for your support.