Ed Miliband’s speech to launch Labour’s summer campaign – full text

Today Labour leader Ed Miliband gave a speech on leadership and ‘the choice’ at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Here’s what he said:

I want to begin by saying something about the horrifying situation in Israel and Gaza. I speak as a friend of Israel and a friend of the Palestinian people. The murder of the three Israeli teenagers at the start of this cycle of violence was an appalling and brutal act. The rocket attacks by Hamas from Gaza are unjustifiable, outrageous and an act of terror. I defend Israel’s right to defend itself and its people against these attacks.

But I simply cannot justify what we are seeing unfolding in Gaza: the mounting death toll of innocent Palestinian civilians. We