Ed Miliband rounds on IDS over Leave campaign’s desire for a “more unequal” Britain

Ed Miliband today accuses Leave campaigners Iain Duncan Smith and Nigel Farage of wanting for a “more unequal, unfair, unjust Britain”.

The former Labour leader said the Outers were pursuing a “race to the bottom” over taxes and regulation that would only increase inequality and harm the fight for social justice.

“Iain Duncan Smith said the other day that his reason for wanting to leave the EU is because he is worried about the divide between the haves and the have nots. But this is someone who in his maiden speech in the House of Commons praised the opt out from the social chapter denying rights for millions of workers.

“Nigel Farage is somebody who has questioned rights for women, who has opposed raising the minimum wage and many other rights at work.

“And then look at what the Chair of their official campaign, Vote Leave, is saying about the issue of climate change and environment. Lord Lawson dismissed climate change as ‘mumbo jumbo’. This says it all about where they stand.”

Miliband added that Labour values should encourage people to vote to remain, saying co-operation was key in order to “reverse the tide of inequality” in the UK and protect workers’ rights.

He was speaking just days after his former boss Gordon Brown made the patriotic case to stay in the EU based on protecting jobs and workers’ rights.

Tonight Miliband is expected to tell an event in Sheffield:

“Of course, we believe our country needs to change. We need to reverse the tide of inequality, make companies pay their taxes, turn away from austerity, tackle climate change and work internationally for a just world.

“But creating a fairer, more equal country in the 21st century needs co-operation across borders more than ever. That means remaining in and not leaving the European Union.”

The Doncaster North MP has previously argued EU membership is crucial to tackle international problems such as tax avoidance and climate change instead of focusing on domestic inequality.

Miliband was speaking on the same days as his successor, Jeremy Corbyn, called on young people to register to vote in the EU referendum in order to “take control” of their future.