Ed Miliband ridiculed for impersonal wreath message for WW1 memorial

Labour leader Ed Miliband has been widely ridiculed for the impersonal message left on the wreath he laid earlier today.

The leaders from all three main political parties laid wreaths to commemorate the beginning of the First World War, a conflict which left 16 million people dead and 21 million wounded.

Ed Miliband has come under attack for not making the effort to write a personal message on the wreath he laid, which read in large letters:

“From the leader of the opposition”

This was in stark contrast to the wreath laid by Prime Minister David Cameron, who signed:

“Your most enduring legacy is our liberty. We must never forget”

Messages on the wreaths laid by David Cameron and Ed Miliband. #WW1Centenary #c4news pic.twitter.com/gDNMxvc2tQ

— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) August 4, 2014

However, the Labour Party claims that Miliband was only handed the wreath moments before laying it and was not given an opportunity to write a personal message.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was also not given the opportunity to write a personal message on the wreath he laid during the ceremony, with his message reading:

“From the Deputy Prime Minister”

It is unclear why the Prime Minister was offered the opportunity to write a personal message, but the other two major leaders were given their wreaths with a pre-written note of attribution.

Prince Charles also laid a wreath, which read simply “In everlasting memory”