No opposition leader looks forward to responding to the Budget. It’s one of the harder gigs as you get little notice of the detailed measures that may cause real rows and are scribbling feverishly throughout the statement to try to make your pre-written speech sound relevant. But it is still an achievement that Ed Miliband in his own response managed to avoid talking about anything in the Budget other than the new design of the pound coins.
He started by reminding the House of Commons of how much further the Chancellor needs to go before hardworking families up and down the country feel as cheerful as the Tories. He said:
‘But he did not mention one central fact: The working people of Britain are worse off under the Tories. Living standards down: month after month, year after year. 2011 – living standards down. 2012 – living standards down. 2013 – living standards down.
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