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‘Miliband lacks economic common sense’

Wednesday, 06 May 2015 2:18 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 06 May 2015 2:18 PM ]

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson ©AFP

Labour’s Ed Miliband has “no economic common sense” for supporting previous Labour government’s spending policies, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.

In recent days, leader of the Labour party, Ed Miliband has repeatedly failed to criticize the level of spending or borrowing under New Labour, saying it was not to blame for the financial crash and subsequent recession.

However, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Peter Robinson told The Telegraph on Wednesday that he disagrees with Miliband’s position.

"You could not objectively separate the boom and bust that we had under Labour from Labour’s spending plans. You cannot continue spending more than the income and that has to be reined in...I suppose in terms of loyalty to old comrades it scores highly. In terms of economic common sense it doesn’t score at all."

Robinson is likely to be a major figure in the scramble to form a government later this week. While the DUP insists it is open to deals with both the Conservatives and Labour, his recent comments suggest a coalition deal with the Labour is unlikely.

However, Robinson did not rule out a deal with Labour.

“We’re saying pretty clearly that we're prepared to do business with either.”

The leader of the DUP also spelt out his fears for the sway the SNP could hold over Miliband and his economic competence. Robinson said one of his “real concerns” was that Miliband would be forced to “placate” the SNP with policy changes if he became prime minister regardless of whether there is a formal pact.

“We've made clear we would not be part of propping up a government that is in hock to the SNP and subjected to their demands, if those demands are against the interests of the Union...If Ed Miliband really believes that he could have a single-party government at the end of this process he could be the richest man on earth because you’ll get 50-1 from the bookies for that. The truth is that he’s going to need additional support.”

PHX

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