He swept in with a rock-star style entrance.

And Labour leader Ed Miliband hit Huddersfield and bounced back from early-morning headlines claiming his government would “threaten jobs” in the UK.

He launched a firm pledge to end the misery of zero-hours contracts.

Workers at the world-renowned David Brown factory in Lockwood waited patiently down two sides of an artificially created avenue for him to stride down before delivering an upbeat message.

There was a huge media presence for the election event with Mr Miliband under pressure to respond to headlines in the Daily Telegraph from 100 very rich people urging poor people not to vote Labour.

The row is over a letter, signed by 100 business leaders in their personal capacity, claiming that any “change in course” after the general election would threaten jobs and put the UK’s economic recovery at risk.

But the letter has been dismissed by Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, as a stunt and Mr Miliband seemed relaxed as he set out plans to outlaw exploitative zero hours contract.

In a passionate, well-received speech he said: “To anyone trying to raise a family on a zero hours contracts and to anyone trying to raise a family on a zero hours contract, I say: “You shouldn’t be left at the beck and call of an employer who can ask the world of you but gives you no security in return.

“It’s not fair, it’s not good for business and we’ll put a stop to it. We have seen today there is a big choice in this election. I believe it is when working families succeed that Britain succeeds.

“The Conservatives believe by looking after a few big firms and individuals at the top, everyone else will be OK. They won’t end the exploitation of zero hours contracts, we will.

“Because we know that security for working people is the bedrock of what makes Britain work. Less than a week ago we heard the Prime Minister say that he couldn’t live on a zero-hours contract.

“He’s right. I couldn’t either. But if it’s not good enough for you, it’s not good enough for Britain. And that’s the way I will run our country. One rule for all.”

Labour party leader Ed Miliband conducts a Q&A session at David Brown Gear Systems in Huddersfield

A spokesman for David Brown insisted they ‘categorically’ don’t employ anyone on a zero hours contract.

The company, which manufactures gears for defence and energy firms, used to make tractors and founded sport car firm Aston Martin, which is where the DB initial in some model names comes from. The car business was sold off in the 1970s.

The question of who can manage Britain’s economy best is always a central issue in any General Election debate and has formed much of the pre-election sniping by both parties with the Conservatives stressing how many jobs have been created while the Labour Party has pointed to the weakness of the recovery.

Meet Ed Miliband the political rock star!