Ed Miliband was in Cambridge today (April 15th) – and wowed a large crowd of many hundreds with a powerful speech before responding enthusiastically to a barrage of questions. He had arrived half an hour earlier, starting by walking through Petty Cury and along Sidney Street, talking to surprised passers-by who found themselves quickly surrounded by cameras. Guardian pundit Jackie Ashley, fresh from interviewing Douglas Alexander at Cambridge Wordfest yesterday, found that an expected day off suddenly became business as usual as her shopping expedition was interrupted by the Labour leader.

He chatted to market traders and many well-wishers who wanted photographs before making a powerful attack on the government’s policies.

Cambridge Labour Parliamentary candidate Daniel Zeichner accompanied him throughout and introduced him to the crowd:

“Ed was an inspiration today – he tackled every question directly, treated everyone with courtesy, patience and good-humour, and repeated his important refrain that politics really can make a difference. His determination to tackle youth unemployment shone through.

He drew a large crowd, not just of Labour supporters, but of people who were genuinely interested in what he has to say. The wider British public are only just beginning to take a look at Ed Miliband – on the basis of today in Cambridge they might well like what they see.”