Ed Miliband speech as it happened

Simon Walker, the Director General of the IoD said: "This was an opportunity for Ed Miliband to demonstrate that he is on the side of Britain's small businesses, entrepreneurs and wealth creators. It was an opportunity to show that his party understands and values the role that British business plays in creating jobs, driving prosperity and supporting communities.

"Unfortunately, the only reference to business was a caricatured broadside against corporate failures, which is in fact a million miles away from the risk, sacrifice and hard work of the small and medium sized businesses that account for 99% of all companies in this country and 60% of private sector jobs.

There are many within the Labour party who fully grasp that SMEs are Britains job-creators, but their voice was drowned out in their leaders speech."

16.55: The Lib Dems, with a nod to this week's 20th anniversary of Friends, has branded Mr Miliband

It was, they say, "the one where Gareth stole the show"

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat Party President, said: The country needs a bold roadmap for the future and all we got was a wayward ramble around a north London park.

With every new announcement we are reminded why we cannot trust Labour with our money.

In an hour-long speech, Miliband offered no ideas on how to tackle the deficit.

Promises go underfunded, uncosted or use money thats been spent many times over.

We are still waiting to hear Labours big ideas, still wondering if the party that crashed the economy can be trusted to get back behind the wheel.

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Ed Miliband speech as it happened