A day in the race : June 23rd

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

The leadership race took a back seat to the football today as England sought to make their way through to the next round of the World Cup. Some of the candidates got in on the action themselves, but most of the talk was still about yesterday’s budget – and cuts.

DAVID MILIBAND wrote for the Mirror today, and attacked the Tory budget, saying:

“The verdict on this Budget is simple – it will slow growth and raise unemployment. That verdict comes straight from the Government’s own figures.”

David spent this afternoon watching today’s match with his campaign team in Westminster – and released an Audioboo early in the second half that almost captured an elusive second England goal.

ANDY BURNHAM spent today defending Labour’s record on the NHS. As a report suggested that the NHS ranked second amongst seven international health systems, and first for efficiency, Burnham said:

“This major international study is an authoritative endorsement of Labour’s stewardship of the NHS over the last 13 years. For the NHS to rank top on efficiency blows apart Tory claims that the NHS wasted money under Labour. But we cannot take the NHS’s high performance for granted, and the Government’s plans to dismantle Labour’s tough waiting time targets threatens to let standards for patients – and our world ranking – slip back.”

ED MILIBAND was in Wales today before returning to Parliament for a PLP meeting on the environment. His campaign have released a video of MPs (including newly elected, “up and coming” Labour members Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves) who are backing his campaign – introducing themselves and listing their reasons for supporting him.

DIANE ABBOTT was in Parliament for PMQs today to hear David Cameron suggest that no Labour leadership candidate had suggested cuts. Abbott retorted on Twitter:

“Cameron said no Labour leadership candidate has any suggestions for cuts. I have. Scrap Trident.”

Twitter is a medium that suits Abbott well – she comes across as pithy and witty. She doesn’t use it often, but if she set her mind to it she could make it an asset.

ED BALLS also took time out to watch the match today – as well as meeting with the PLP education committee. Tonight he’ll be appearing on Newsnight, although his ConDem opponent is still TBC.

Balls also attacked the VAT hike in an email to supporters, saying:

“VAT is the only tax that everyone has to
pay, whether they are unemployed or pensioners, and it hits couples with children hardest. It is a tax which charges everyone the same, irrespective of income. That’s why it’s so unfair.”