For the first time in this campaign, foreign affairs are not only being discussed but also dominating today’s agenda. Ed Miliband is set to criticise the coalition’s record on foreign policy, putting at least some of the blame for the Libyan migrant crisis on David Cameron. To help guide you through the melée of stories and spin, here is a summary of today’s main election stories.
1. The Libya blame game
At Chatham House this morning, Ed Miliband will deliver a speech on Britain’s international role and responsibilities. Before Miliband has even taken to the podium, a row has broken out over whether he is accusing the government of abandoning Libya, after failing to properly plan for the aftermath of the 2011 bombing campaign. Miliband will say this morning:
‘In Libya, Labour supported military action to avoid the slaughter Gaddafi threatened in Benghazi. But since the action, the failure of post conflict planning has become obvious. David Cameron was wrong to assume that Libya’s political culture and institutions could be left to evolve and transform on their own.
‘What we have seen in Libya is that when tensions over power and resource began to emerge, they simply reinforced deep seated ideological and ethnic fault lines in the country, meaning the hopes of the revolutionary uprisings quickly began to unravel. The tragedy is that this could have been anticipated.
‘It should have been avoided. And Britain could have played its part in ensuring the international community stood by the people of Libya in practice rather than standing behind the unfounded hopes of potential progress only in principle.;
The Tories are already briefing out that this statement is blaming Cameron for the migrant tragedies. PoliticsHome’s Paul Waugh reports Tory sources saying that the comments are ‘deeply provocative, shameful and takes Labour’s negative campaigning to a new low’. On the Today programme, the Environment Secretary Liz Truss described the remarks as ‘absolutely offensive’. ‘To bring this into an election campaign, I think is outragous and disgraceful.’
Tory sources: Miliband blaming Cam for Med migrant deaths is ‘deeply provocative + shameful..takes Labour’s negative campaigning to new low’
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) April 24, 2015
Another Tory source on Med migrant spch: “A few bad polls for Labour after a poor week of campaigning + EdMiliband accuses the PM of murder”
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) April 24, 2015
But Labour is hitting back, arguing that is not what Miliband is trying to say. Campaign chief Douglas Alexander has said ‘this is a totally manufactured row, to avoid a real debate about foreign policy.’ Given that Labour also supported the bombing of Libya in 2011, it’s a difficult line for Miliband to tread. Let the briefing war commence.
2. Cry god for England
The Conservatives are focusing on the Union (again) today, with David Cameron giving a speech on English nationalism. Speaking in the East of England, the Prime Minister will promise to introduce an England-specific income tax as part of an English manifesto — including more pledges on housing, jobs and healthcare. Cameron is trying to out manoeuvre Ukip, who frequently talk up England as the forgotten nation of the Union. After continuous warnings about the SNP, appealing to voters who want a better deal for England is the second part of the Tories’ plan. Cameron will say this morning that the current situation is ‘simply unfair’:
‘Soon the Scottish parliament will be voting to set its own levels of income tax – and rightly so – but that has clear implications. English MPs will be unable to vote on the income tax paid by people in Aberdeen and Edinburgh while Scottish MPs are able to vote on the tax you pay in Birmingham or Canterbury or Leeds.’
Although the Tories seem to reckon there are soft Ukip votes to be won over here, what will this mean for the fabric of the Union? On the Today programme, Liz Truss described it as a ‘hybrid solution’, arguing ‘we’re not proposing an English parliament with completely separate decision making’.
3. Business bashers
Labour’s favourite ex-minister Lord Digby Jones has popped up to criticise Ed Miliband again. The former head of the CBI appears in the Telegraph today, telling the Labour leader in an open letter that his attitude towards commerce is ‘ignorant at worst and disinterested’ and that he is seen to be ‘sneering’ at wealth creators. As others have pointed out, Jones is a crossbencher in the House of Lords and never joined the Labour party. But he does underline the perception problems that still dog Miliband’s Labour party over business.
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