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Hell yes, I’m tough enough: Ed Miliband ‘shrugged off’ ambush by thugs wearing Alex Salmond masks Hell yes, I’m tough enough: Ed Miliband ‘shrugged off’ ambush by thugs wearing Alex Salmond masks
(about 2 hours later)
Now we know why Ed Miliband was in such a fighting spirit when he took on Jeremy Paxman last night.Now we know why Ed Miliband was in such a fighting spirit when he took on Jeremy Paxman last night.
Earlier in the day he was attacked by thugs wearing Alex Salmond masks after attending a Labour party election campaign event.Earlier in the day he was attacked by thugs wearing Alex Salmond masks after attending a Labour party election campaign event.
Eye witnesses described a man punching Mr Miliband in the chest, but a spokesman for the Labour leader brushed it off as “a bit of campaign rough and tumble”. “Ed shrugged it off,” he added and said reports he was punched were wrong. Perhaps it was this incident that put Mr Miliband in such a combative mood as he was grilled by Mr Paxman last night.Eye witnesses described a man punching Mr Miliband in the chest, but a spokesman for the Labour leader brushed it off as “a bit of campaign rough and tumble”. “Ed shrugged it off,” he added and said reports he was punched were wrong. Perhaps it was this incident that put Mr Miliband in such a combative mood as he was grilled by Mr Paxman last night.
“Am I tough enough? Hell yes I’m tough enough,” Mr Miliband declared when Mr Paxman challenged him over whether he would stand up to the likes of Vladimir Putin on the world stage .“Am I tough enough? Hell yes I’m tough enough,” Mr Miliband declared when Mr Paxman challenged him over whether he would stand up to the likes of Vladimir Putin on the world stage .
Some in the Labour party pointed the blame at Conservative supporters, but this was categorically denied by the Tories.Some in the Labour party pointed the blame at Conservative supporters, but this was categorically denied by the Tories.
Responding to reports that there was Tory involvement in the incident, a spokesman for the party said: "It’s untrue and defamatory. Any implication that the Conservative Party, or Conservative activists, were involved in this is completely untrue."
 
The scuffle took took place as Mr Miliband left a lunchtime campaigning event in Rotherhithe in South East London.The scuffle took took place as Mr Miliband left a lunchtime campaigning event in Rotherhithe in South East London.
The thugs who attacked Miliband were wearing Alex Salmond masks (AFP)The thugs who attacked Miliband were wearing Alex Salmond masks (AFP)
Rachel Penn, a 42-year-old Labour party activist, told the Mirror: “He was pretty shaken up. It was quite dramatic.Rachel Penn, a 42-year-old Labour party activist, told the Mirror: “He was pretty shaken up. It was quite dramatic.
"His path was blocked by two people who were being very aggressive. He was shoved out of the way and couldn't get in the car."His path was blocked by two people who were being very aggressive. He was shoved out of the way and couldn't get in the car.
"One guy punched Ed in the chest and shut the car door so he couldn't get in.""One guy punched Ed in the chest and shut the car door so he couldn't get in."
Another Labour activist said: "The group came out of nowhere. Ed only had four of five steps to get to the car but they set upon him immediately.Another Labour activist said: "The group came out of nowhere. Ed only had four of five steps to get to the car but they set upon him immediately.
Ed Miliband 'shrugged off' yesterday's attack before taking on Jeremy Paxman "He was definitely pushed but he shrugged it off and made his way to the far side of the car.Ed Miliband 'shrugged off' yesterday's attack before taking on Jeremy Paxman "He was definitely pushed but he shrugged it off and made his way to the far side of the car.
"Ed had to push his way through them to get into the car. It was over very quickly but it was shocking.""Ed had to push his way through them to get into the car. It was over very quickly but it was shocking."
A spokesman for the Conservative party categorically denied any involvement from the party and said any claims Labour were blaming them were lies.A spokesman for the Conservative party categorically denied any involvement from the party and said any claims Labour were blaming them were lies.