Milliband, the Mail and Newsnight

[Norman Verona]

Nick, the mail has no need to back down, they cannot be sued from the grave.

[XTR2Turbo]

I can't see them apologising either, and in the context of how all the gutter press seems to operate, not clear to me that they have especially overstepped the mark by comparison with equivalent stories. I'm not saying its right but the tabloid press all have a pretty weak ethical compass..

 

Of course the underlying story here is the two main parties are tentatively moving away from the centre ground that has dominated elections and politics since the extremes of thatcherism and the emergence of New Labour but without wanting to admit it. The view being that they need to differentiate themselves more if we aren't likely to have another hung parliament and loose votes to the likes of UKIP.  This especially seems to be the case with Labour who I think realise that if the economy continues to recover they will be left on the sidelines and need another agenda.

 

The Tories know that a very socialist left wing labour would not be electable in the same way an extreme right ring Tory party would not be.

 

So what you are seeing is the start of attempts to show the extremes of either party and also hold on to the middleground. The Tory strategy is clearly to show they can be trusted with the economy and work pays to hold the middle ground whilst painting the labour party as uncontrollably spending socialists

 

Painting Ed as Red Ed by the Tory press, if it really sticks will make him unelectable. Likewise if Ed Balls is still shadow chancellor with the links back to Gordon Brown's economic mess will hurt.  From this perspective Eds popularist speech will come back to haunt him and Cameron, whilst boring was on much safer ground. 

 

Likewise you are seeing the left wing media painting the Tories as toff and spiteful looking after the elite.

 

But a lot rests on what happens to the economy ...