Millionaires should get child benefit, says Ed Miliband

By Tim Montgomerie

Interviewed on BBC1's Politics Show Ed Miliband confirmed that he opposed George Osborne's restriction in eligibility for child benefit. He told Jon Sopel that child benefit was a proper recognition by society of the costs of raising children. He also said he would protect all universal benefits from cuts, even those paid to millionaires. [ConservativeHome has identified the future of universal benefits as a potentially defining battle of this parliament].

The new Labour leader confirmed that he would stick to the previous Labour government's ambition to cut the deficit in half by the end of the parliament. To go further, he said, would risk economic growth. He pointed to warning signs that the economy might be faltering and charged that David Cameron would be responsible if his "ideological" cuts resulted in low growth and high unemployment. He promised to set out more details on Labour's budget plans before George Osborne's comprehensive spending statement but ruled out new taxes on middle Britain. The only extra revenues would, he said, be gleaned from banks and from clamping down on tax avoidance.

He confirmed that he still supported a graduate tax even though he appointed a shadow chancellor who is opposed.

[At one stage in the interview his mouth filled with saliva and he spat out his words. He needs to work on that].