Labour leader Ed Miliband vowed to tax bankers’ bonuses and pump the cash into getting young East Enders back to work during a visit to a Bethnal Green school this morning.

Mr Miliband spent an hour at Bethnal Green Academy in Gosset Street as part of a whirlwind tour to promote his new vision for economic stability.

He said: “We can tax the bonuses of the bankers and use that money to put young unemployed people, here in this borough, back to work, right here, right now. That’s what we would be doing if we were in government.”

Tower Hamlets currently has one of the highest numbers of young people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in England.

Mr Miliband has been spending all of today discussing how Labour, as opposed to the Tory-led coalition, is best placed to deliver fairness in the midst of the huge challenges facing the economy.

He also praised pupils at the newly-formed academy for campaigning for cleaning staff at the school to be paid the London Living Wage, �8.30 per hour.

Mr Miliband said: “I’ve been hearing what a difference that’s made to people’s lives.”

Backing the academy scheme, he said the school, formerly Bethnal Green Technology College, was a prime example of “good leadership”.

Five years ago it was close to closing after being put on special measures but head teacher Mark Keary has turned it around and last summer, a record four fifths of pupils achieved five A* to C GCSE grades.

Despite coming under criticism for his leadership style by members of his party in recent weeks, the Labour leader defended his style as he spoke at the school.

He said: “I think my style of leadership is to say what I believe, to say where I want to take this country. The most important message today is to say that Labour can deliver fairness, even in difficult times.”

He was joined by Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali and Tower Hamlets Labour leader, Josh Peck.