The imagery behind David Miliband’s speech this afternoon

David Miliband made a much commented upon speech this afternoon in opposition to the Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill. One paragraph that stood out was when he said:

The Chancellor reminds me of the man in the 1929 election poster, standing above others on a ladder. Water is up to the neck of the man on the bottom rung, while the man at the top shouts “Equality – let’s all go down one rung”.

Some LabourList readers might be unfamiliar with the poster Miliband was referring to – a copy of which hangs above the Editor’s desk in our office. It’s a classic, so we’ve reproduced a copy below:

It’s as true today as it was 84 years ago…