Ed Miliband is ridiculed for 'pathetic' and 'distasteful' message left on wreath he laid at Cenotaph to mark WWI centenary

• Labour Leader's wreath message said: 'From the Leader of the Opposition'
• His supporters claim he was handed the wreath and note seconds earlier
• David Cameron and Prince Charles left handwritten messages at Cenotaph 
• PM wrote: 'Your enduring legacy is our liberty. We must never forget' 

By Martin Robinson and Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor 

Ed Miliband was ridiculed today after laying a wreath honouring the First World War dead with a scruffy message that read: 'From the Leader of the Opposition' .

The note, scrawled with a black marker, was left at the Cenotaph in Glasgow today and has been branded 'pathetic' and 'distasteful'.

But the Labour leader's team say he was denied the chance to write his own message and was only handed the wreath by organisers moments before he put it down. 

Contrast: A row has erupted online after David Cameron left a handwritten note on a WW1 wreath but Ed Miliband's just said his title and was written with a black marker

Incident: Political leaders were asked to lay tributes by Mr Miliband's team say he was handed his seconds before he put it down and was not allowed to write his own message

In contrast David Cameron's message read: 'Our most enduring legacy is our liberty. We must never forget' and was signed personally by the Prime Minister.

The Prince of Wales also wrote his own note, which said: 'In everlasting memory, Charles'.  

Nick Clegg also put down a wreath with a note in the same handwriting, which only said: 'From the Deputy Prime Minister'. 

The incident has led to a row online with some calling Mr Miliband 'pathetic' and others claiming he had been 'stitched up'. 

Sarah Cochrane wrote: 'I think Ed Miliband's message on the wreath is pathetic. He couldn't even be bothered to write his own name'.

More...

• Turn out your lights to remember the fallen: Britons urged to join some of the country's most famous buildings with candle-lit vigil for First World War centenary
• 'We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them': William and Kate join global commemorations to honour the brave men who fought in the trenches exactly 100 years after Great War began
• 'On a summer's day 100 years ago, the world changed': Prince Charles and David Cameron lead Glasgow Cathedral commemoration to mark Britain entering the First World War

Marion Armer said 'he must have put a lot of thought into that tribute'. 

Others, including former Tory MP Louise Mensch, compared the incident to accusations former Labour leader Michael Foot wore a donkey jacket at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in 1981. Mr Foot denied the claims and said the coat was an expensive gift from his wife. 

Ms Mensch added: 'I am stunned by Ed Miliband's WWI centenary wreath message, which is arrogant, disrespectful and just plain rude.'

Defence: Labour supporters say that Mr Miliband has been 'stitched up' over the incident

Similar: The wreath put down by Nick Clegg also had a note containing his job title

This tribute from the People of Scotland was also written in the same black marker

Commemorations:  Prince Charles, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband were taking part in a series of events being held 100 years to the day after the start of the First World War

Mr Miliband's supporters said this afternoon any criticism was unfair.

A source told MailOnline it was a Government-organised ceremony and 'Ed was handed the wreath seconds before and had not chance to write his own message.This was essentially a label being used by the organisers to give him the right wreath'.

A Labour spokesman added: ‘We were very disappointed that Ed was not given the chance to write a personal message.’

Upset: Twitter users have ridiculed the Labour leader for the message left at the Cenotaph

A source close to Nick Clegg said: 'The option of hand signing was not one we were ever given.

'The DPM was handed the wreath seconds before he laid it and there was no opportunity to do anything differently.'

The incident happened at hundreds of people gathered at George Square for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, Home Secretary Theresa May and Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities, were among those who attended the hour-long service in the heart of the city.

Prince Charles, sitting next to Mr Cameron, listened as prayers were said and a bugler played the Last Post.

Members of the public lined the square to pay their respects, many of them clutching union flags.