Russell Brand interviews Ed Miliband: 'I hope this doesn't sound totally adolescent'
The two debated the big issues, such as media ownership and the future of the NHS, and found plenty of common ground
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Your support makes all the difference.Russell Brand's highly anticipated interview with Ed Miliband has broken - with the two debating the importance of democracy in the comedian's kitchen.
Posted on Brand's YouTube site The Trews, the campaigner took the Labour leader to task on the big issues of the day - such as banking and human rights.
Miliband also joked about his persona versus that of Nigel Farage and said: "I'm not sure if I'd look so good with a pint on my head."
Brand spoke of a sense among the public of the people in power being unelected elites, and Miliband argued that politics was the only way to make sure change was implemented in a fair way.
Miliband said that Brand was "totally wrong" when he spoke of rights not having progressed since the time of the Suffragettes and that voting didn't work. He insisted that politics was founded on people, and said that democracy as it stands now was the best thing for Britain.
Miliband said: "It shouldn't be one rule for the richest and most powerful, and another rule for everybody else. It should be one rule for everybody, and that's the sort of society I believe in."
Reading from a sheet of paper, Brand grilled Miliband on figures. Miliband defended the bailing out of the banks, and insisted that he would defend normal people.
Brand continually pushed Miliband to make solid pledges on important issues such as media ownership. He made no concrete promises, but said he was "standing up" to powerful forces.
The "Yes We Can euphoria" of Barack Obama appeared to be criticised, with both parties agreeing that sensible change should be at the forefront of the agenda.
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"I don't think people want euphoria at this time," Brand said. "I think they want security, and stability, and an end to that fear."
The two were also united in their dislike of the Tories, with Miliband saying that he believes the Conservative party tells people "this is as good as it's going to get" - a stance Miliband opposes.
The two shared several jokes, with Brand saying to an exhausted-looking "You must be bloody worn out", and Miliband saying that he's be "very angry" if he found out that Brand's production crew were on zero-hours contracts.
Miliband's accent seemed different from his normal House of Commons debating voice. In a tone similar to Brand's Estuary accent, Miliband referred to the "National Elf Service", "it ain't going to be like that" and said he's "not 'ere to be edgy".
Brand wouldn't be drawn on whether he would actually cast a vote for Labour in the future, but he said the interview "said a lot" about Miliband, as they saw eye-to-eye on many of the big issues.
Tomorrow, Brand will be broadcasting an interview with the Green Party's Natalie Bennett and Caroline Lucas.
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