Ed Miliband has been the butt of many jokes, including some commentators saying he looks weird or that he looked like the animated character Wallace from Aardman films 'Wallace and Gromit'. He has also been called many names - 'Red Ed' being one - by the right wing press because his father, Ralph Miliband was a Marxist. The 'Daily Mail' ran a feature some time ago on Ralph Miliband, saying he hated the UK which made even David Cameron come to Ed Miliband's aid, saying that yes, he did have political differences with his Labour rival but attacking someone's father was not right.
The latest opinion polls vary, with the ICM poll giving the Conservatives, also known as Tories, a 6 point lead over Labour, whereas YouGov puts Labour 3 points ahead. Nick Robinson did an analysis of Ed Miliband's speech in Manchester today and said it was one of the most powerful speeches he has seen Ed Miliband make.
In his speech, Ed Miliband said Labour would not promise anything it could not fund, and Ed Miliband said while being in opposition he had been tested. He gave examples of standing up to Rupert Murdoch and saying he would have no messing with the energy companies on behalf of consumers, if he were in power and would freeze energy prices like gas and electricity until 2017. Ed Miliband continued that if he were Prime Minister after May 7, in office he would stand up for ordinary people and said Labour would change the way the country is run and who it is run for.
He went on that he was ready for the job of being UK's Prime Minister, meanwhile David Cameron was quoted as saying that Miliband was out to con the public with his enticing speech. Nigel Farage of UKIP and the Lib - Dem's Nick Clegg who has served as Deputy Pm in the coalition government also poured scorn on Miliband's speech.
On BBC News they asked people from business owners to ordinary people in the north west of England about Ed Miliband's speech and not many people were impressed.
Labour's general election manifesto is 86 pages long and 20,241 words long, and it includes policies such as raising the minimum wage to £8.00 by the end of 2019, freezing gas and electricity prices to 2017 and cutting tuition fees from £6000 - £9000.
At this point, it is almost too close to call between Labour and Conservative in the run up to May 7, and what effect the minor parties will have on the Westminster parliament after May 7.
