Did we see a watershed of sorts today?

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

At the end of Ed Miliband’s speech today, there may just have been a watershed moment – although probably not the one Miliband anticipated. Today was about making a departure from Labour’s previous policies on both the high paid and those on benefits, and that played a part. But what was most memorable about this event came later.

The media had been forced to wait until after “ordinary members of the public” asked their questions, to launch their assault on Ed Miliband. Jon Craig from Sky News was primed to ask the first question, and as soon as he got his opportunity he pounced. He threw a list of questions at the podium – all of them barbed, all of them personal, all accusatory. And then something remarkable happened. An audible groan rose from the public who had assembled to hear Ed’s speech. Miliband smiled, emboldened by this tacit vote of confidence from outside of the Westminster bubble, and argued – confidently, and forcefully, the way he often doesn’t at PMQs – that he would be focused on the issues that matter in the real world, not on the soap opera of Westminster. He was applauded – loudly – for a good thirty seconds. A man sat next to me seemed to be struggling to keep a whoop from escaping. It was a real world moment in a political setting – a rare thing indeed.

If the media – especially the news channels – have the bravery to show that minute of footage, than Ed Miliband might just have turned the corner away from a dark and grim period of his leadership. But it wouldn’t be in their interests to show one of their own – and their profession – shown up in such a way. Regardless, Miliband’s team should invite the public to every Ed Mili presser in future – they certainly livened up proceedings, and we got some questioning that sounded like they came from somewhere outside SE1 – a relief from endless and fruitless questions about brothers and feuds.

But let’s assume that footage of a cheering public will never see the light of day, and concentrate on the meat from today. Was this a relaunch? Or the first steps on the road to recovery? It may sound like semantics, but when Ed stood up at Coin Street neighbourhood centre (the name was no accident) this afternoon he clearly wanted to achieve the latter, which he probably just about managed. In the key paragraphs, he said:

“For too many people at the last election, we were seen as the party that represented these two types of people. Those at the top and the bottom who were not showing responsibility and were shirking their duty to each other. From bankers who caused the global financial crisis to some of those on benefits who were abusing the system because they could work – but didn’t”

“Labour – a party founded by hard working people for hard working people – was seen by some – however unfairly – as the party of those ripping off our society….We will be a party that rewards contribution, not worklessness.”

Miliband argued that the link between pay and performance must be restored. It’s a smart line that makes it difficult for his detractors to accuse him of attacking aspiration. However it’s his comments on benefits and welfare that are likely to be of most interest – and potentially concern – to Labour supporters. Ed said clearly today that Labour’s approach to welfare will change – to recognise the contribution that recipients are making to their local communities and through work. It was a speech that dripped with the colouring and the rhetoric of Blue Labour. The fingerprints of Maurice Glasman were so obvious you could practically see them on the clear, sleek white banners adorning the stage. Community, neighbourhood, there being more to life than money. It was pure Blue Labour, and it gave Ed a vim and vigour that hasn’t been there for a while.

I won’t pretend that I didn’t wince when I heard the opening paragraph of Ed’s speech though, which risked wandering into “welfare scrounger” territory when it comes to the long-term sick and disabled. It was a wince that recognised how hurtful such a line could be to those who have been forced to go through endless demeaning assessments to “prove” their ill-health. But it was also the wince of someone who has heard, time and time again, the refrain on the doorstep that those who can work must work. Ed’s response to a later question – that we must disentangle the issues of ill-health, disability and worklessness from each other – was much more convincing than the slightly crude language in his speech. In the coming days and weeks he’ll need to put policy flesh on the bones outlined today. He’ll need to be good to his word that compassion is crucial too. Benefit reform needn’t mean bashing the sick and disabled. Let’s hope that beyond the rhetoric, Ed realises the complexity of the policy challenges ahead.

All in all though, Ed will feel justifiably pleased with himself today. He hit his marks well in his speech. He was smart and engaging when it came to answering questions from the public. He didn’t flap when faced with uncomfortable questions from the media. But more importantly, he looked – even only momentarily – like a shark. He was under pressure today, but he swam, and snapped and hurled himself at his task. At one point he even admitted that he was enjoying himself.

Perhaps that is the secret after all.