Ed Miliband says he is tough enough to be Prime Minister and tackle the hard decisions ahead.
Ed Miliband
Miliband took part in the first television debate last night where Jeremy Paxman interviewed him and David Cameron before facing questions from the studio audience.
During the interview, Miliband hit back at suggestions from Paxman that he does not have the strength of character to do what is necessary on the global stage. When asked if he was tough enough for the job, Miliband said: "Am I tough enough? Hell yes I am tough enough."
"You need a toughness in this job. People have thrown a lot at me over four-and-half-years. I am a pretty resilient guy. And I have been underestimated at every turn. "People said I wouldn't become leader and I did. People said four years ago 'he can't become prime minister', I think I can. You are saying I can't win a majority, I think I can. Let people underestimate me."
Despite an early poll suggesting that David Cameron edged the debate over his Labour rival, it was a feisty and spirited performance from Miliband.
The Labour leader who, alongside Cameron, has the only real shot at becoming Prime Minster in May, talked passionately about making Britain work for those who go out and work hard. Miliband revealed that he wanted to make this country a fairer place, but did concede that difficult choices were going to have to be made when it came to cutting the deficit. He also distanced himself from New Labour and the government of Tony Blair, saying that mistakes has been make with the banking system and the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
However, it was with the questions from the studio audience that Miliband really thrived as he joked about the bacon sandwich incident and looking pretty laid back.
Cameron may have edged the debate 54% to 46%, be he too came in for a grilling from Paxman who criticised him for his failure to tackle immigration and the rise in the number of food banks that has taken place under a Conservative government.
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