1:23pm UK, Thursday June 30, 2011
With the strikes in full swing, one man who is anxious not to get caught up in confrontation is Labour leader Ed Miliband.
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Writing on a blog on his website edmiliband.org a couple of days ago, he said the industrial action was a "mistake" but blamed the Government, saying ministers had "mishandled the whole process".
Speaking this morning his language had hardened a little, saying the strikes were "wrong", but again accusing the Government of "reckless" behaviour.
These were the words of a man who knew that committing himself too strongly to one or the other side in this dispute could rebound on him.
750,000 public sector workers are expected to strike
Associating himself with the strikers would open him up to the usual damaging accusations that he is in hock to the trade unions.
But criticising the strikes too harshly would inevitably provoke a backlash from within the Labour movement.
Quite apart from his immediate attempt to find a balanced position on this first day of major strike action, the opposition leader needs to establish where he is on the issue underlying the dispute - public sector pensions.
Again, he finds himself on the horns of a dilemma.
The Government is acting on the recommendations of Mr Miliband's former Cabinet colleague John Hutton, whose report found that the current regime of public sector pension provision is "unsustainable."
The final report was published shortly before the Budget (it followed an interim report with similar conclusions published in October 2010).
Though the Labour party has said it is considering the report and agreed that it offers "a good way forward", it has yet to issue a formal considered response.
Passengers travelling into Britain are warned of delays
Behind the scenes it is clear that Labour is wrestling with the issue - should the party come out in support of Lord Hutton, knowing that would alienate many union supporters (and some Labour backbenchers who view him as a traitor)?
The alternative, rejecting the report at least in part, might allow the government to paint Mr Miliband's party as reactionary and unwilling to grapple with tough challenges like the need to bring down the public sector pension bill.
Neither option is particularly appetising.
Article Source KBG Test Blog (http://rc.kbg.me)
