At last Labour gets it - wages freeze leads to declining living standards

In a well trailed speech, Labour leader Ed Miliband today will warn of a "cost of living crisis" hitting low and middle-earners.

The BBC reports that Miliband will argue that "wage stagnation", along with government spending cuts and benefit reforms, will adversely affect living standards:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12591472

The Labour leader will say:

"There is now a very real risk that we will see the longer-term pressure on wages for those on middle and low incomes colliding with rising prices, tax and benefit changes introduced by this Tory-led government and public service cuts which all hit families with children the hardest."

"My fear for those on middle and low incomes is that more and more families will face a cost of living crisis that will see them left behind, even as the economy eventually recovers."

"The task for the future is to build a different sort of economy; a high-quality economy with quality jobs and a better quality of life."

"That means good jobs at good wages for middle and lower income families. And a tax and benefit system that supports families with children, not one which is increasingly skewed against them, as we see under this government."