A day in the race: August 31st

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

The aftermath of Peter Mandelson’s intervention in the leadership race continued today, with Ed Balls using a LabourList article to criticise the “Miliband soap opera” that has begun to unfold and dominate the media narrative as the race comes to its conclusion.

Writing for LabourList ED BALLS was critical of what he called the “Miliband soap opera” and suggested that it was beneficial to the front runners:

“The now daily episodes of the Miliband soap opera suit those who want to keep this a two-horse race, but do not do justice to the issues at stake in this election.”

“It is wearily familiar of the general election campaign when serious questions went unasked or unanswered as the media obsession with personalities dominated all discussion.”

“As we have seen since the election, politics – for good or bad – is in the end about practical decision making that affects people’s lives. It is about having the strength and belief to turn ideas into reality, and take a stand on the issues that matter.”

The main thrust of Ed’s article however, was on housing, and his plan to build 100,000 extra affordable homes for £6 billion:

“I think that at a time when the economy is still so fragile and other countries are already tipping back into recession, we should instead use that money to boost construction jobs and build new homes.”

“By using half of that £12 billion, a £6 billion investment this year and next, we could build 100,000 extra affordable homes which it’s been estimated would create up to 750,000 new jobs, directly in the construction industry and indirectly in the supply chain including thousands of apprenticeships for young people.”

“And rather than raising VAT on the repair, maintenance and improvement of housing to 20% from January, we should create a temporary rate of 5%, cutting the costs for households investing in the value of their home, and creating thousands more jobs. In the short term this could be paid for by part of the remaining £6 billion windfall, but the evidence from when this has been tried in other countries is that the actual tax take increases as a result.”

After a day of media interviews, and visits to Bermondsey and Croydon, he held an event in central London on housing, as he makes his final push in the leadership contest.

ED MILIBAND as holding his “Call for change” events across the country today, focussing on getting volunteers to call as many Labour Party members as possible ahead of ballot papers dropping on doormats tomorrow. His team tweeted the following picture of what looks like a packed event in London:

In a wide-ranging interview with the Evening Standard published today, Ed suggested that he might be willing to reconsider the status of Grammar Schools, and how their status is decided, saying:

“I think that an issue has been raised about the system of ballots for grammar schools and whether the right people get a chance to vote in the ballots. I’m not giving you a definitive answer, I’m saying it is an issue to be looked at.”

Meanwhile Ed was in the North West today, visiting the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, before heading to Communiversity Centre at Croxteth with Stephen Twigg MP. Tonight he’s staying in Liverpool, and taking part in the phone bank event there.

DAVID MILIBAND today criticised the government for opting out of the EU directive against human trafficking and the sex trade, accusing the Tories of “putting Tory animosity towards the EU above the safety of people who are trafficked into prostitution”.

Speaking this afternoon, David said:

“You simply cannot combat trafficking in human beings, and the sex trade operating within the European Union, without cooperation at an EU level. Co-operation cannot be haphazard, and cannot be just sometimes, which is why this directive is so important.”

“The flows of human trafficking within the EU area show this form of modern slavery has moved on, and so too must the EU’s directive in dealing with it.”

Ealier today he was labelled “the special one” by Alan Johnson as the Peter Mandelson row rumbles on, but David, like his brother Ed, has sensibly allowed proxies to fight this battle, and has maintained a sensible distance.

Tonight David was at a rally in Newcastle as his team make one final push before voting starts.

ANDY BURNHAM today spoke out about coalition plans to shake-up the structure of the NHS, with proposals that Andy said were attacking the ‘N’ in NHS. The main thrust of his argument was that this was something which is happening despite being denied by both coalition parties. Burnham said:

“We are on the brink of reforms that will fundamentally alter its character – and it’s time to raise an informed and inclusive debate about them.

“I have spoken to many NHS staff in all parts of the country about what the government’s reform plans mean.”

“The threat is not theoretical but real. The very fabric of today’s successful NHS is being unpicked before our eyes. Primary Care Trusts are being dismantled without any real detail on what will succeed them, or evidence that it will work.”

“Then, from nowhere at the weekend, we hear that NHS Direct – a service that saves almost £100m a year – is to go without a proven alternative.”

“Such is the importance of the NHS – and the ill-conceived nature of these reforms – that I believe it will soon dominate the political debate in this country…alongside the debate in parliament, we need to see NHS staff and patients given the chance to debate these proposals with MPs in villages, towns and cities up and down the country over the autumn and winter.””

DIANE ABBOTT made an appeal to party members in an email today as she prepares for the start of voting tomorrow. The email sought to focus on her key messages, as well as thanking supporters. Diane said:

“I want to stand up for the most vulnerable and protect those in need.”

“I want make changes that new and old members want to see.”

“I want to:

* PROTECT THE PUBLIC SECTOR

* SCRAP TRIDENT

* BRING TROOPS BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN

* STAND UP FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

* RESTORE FAITH AND TRUE DEMOCRACY IN THIS PARTY”

This email was trailed on her website as the “last message from Diane”, which suggests that this might be Diane’s final online push before the ballots drop – it’s smart for her to hold this email back till the last moment, but the style its written in is unusual. I hope that she’ll keep up her new media efforts over the final weeks of the campaign. I’m sure this won’t be the final message from Diane by any means…