 Though Labour remained officially neutral , he in a personal capacity supported the ultimately unsuccessful " Yes to AV " campaign in the Alternative Vote referendum on 5 May 2011 , saying that it would benefit Britain 's " progressive majority " . In September 2011 , Miliband stated that a future Labour Government would immediately cut the cap on tuition fees for university students from £ 9 @,@ 000 per year to £ 6 @,@ 000 , though he also stated that he remained committed to a graduate tax in the long @-@ run . Together with Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls , Miliband also promoted a " five @-@ point plan for jobs and growth " aimed at helping the UK economy , involving extending the bonus tax on banks pioneered by Alistair Darling , bringing forward planned long @-@ term investment to help reduce unemployment , cutting the rate of VAT from 20 % back to 17 @.@ 5 % , cutting VAT on home improvements to 5 % for a temporary one @-@ year period , and instigating a one @-@ year National Insurance break to encourage employers to hire more staff . Miliband also endorsed the Blue Labour trend in the Labour Party , founded by Maurice Glasman . Blue Labour talks about family and friendships at the heart of society , rather than just material wealth ; it also offers a very strong critique of the free market as well as the big state . This was seen to have influenced his 2011 conference speech , signalling " predatory and productive capitalism " . 
