Many people in Slough complained to me during the general election that they felt the Labour government had taken their hard earned money in taxes and passed it on to people who were taking the Mickey.

I am glad to see that Ed Miliband responded to this concern in his speech about the duty of government to take on people, whether they be bankers or benefit scroungers, who are ripping the rest of us off.

This Government isn't helping.  Its Welfare Reform Bill will make it harder for people to be responsible, to do the right thing. It undermines childcare support for those wanting to work; it cuts help for the most vulnerable such as those who live in care homes - who receive support to help them get out and about; and it takes money away from those recovering from cancer, who paid their taxes when they could and should be get something back when they need it.

But it's not enough to look only at need; if we are to improve the welfare state,  we must also reward people who are responsible and contribute, whether through paying their fair share, through volunteering, or working against anti-social behaviour, as well as protecting those in need. As Ed Miliband said ‘we will be a Party that rewards contribution, not worklessness'.

We all know the banking industry has been able to get away with massive rewards for themselves whilst at the same time putting the economy at risk. In future, we need accountability at the top. The Labour Party would tax bankers bonuses and require boardrooms to publish the difference in pay between the highest paid and the average employee.

A community and a country needs a sense of shared responsibility, as well as national ambitions. Responsibility is not to government, it is to each other.