Cruddas backs David Miliband for middle Britain
David Blackburn 6:10pm
The rumours were true: Jon Cruddas has backed David Miliband. It’s an unlikely union on the face of it -
an ambitious centrist and an almost utopian socialist. Though Cruddas once forged a partnership with the equally centrist James Purnell, so it is no great surprise that he is a pluralist. Cruddas
tells the New Statesman that in ‘terms of the nature of the leadership that's needed, he's beginning
to touch on some of those more profound questions that need to be addressed head-on.’
Is Cruddas right? Miliband has delivered the speech that he thinks will define his campaign. To be brutally honest, it was not profound. There was little other the usual Milibandian quota of
abstractions and specious waffle. A favourite extract is:
‘To defeat this government, to renew our party, and to revive our country. That is the purpose of my candidacy for the leadership of our party. It means learning from the past but not simply repudiating it.’
His arguments were circular, not direct. He said that the public did not reject Labour’s values on 6 May, just personalities like himself; therefore, the party must renew itself and preferably under his leadership.
But, to be fair, Miliband’s conclusion was an effective plea for middle England and all that it represents:
‘London, that ‘Mansion House of Liberty’ to quote John Milton, this great city, did not give us dinner parties; it gave us life. Leeds, where I spent a formative part of my childhood and my dad was a teacher of politics, did not give us political theory; it gave us the middle class middle Britain security that comes from being part of a strong community, where you put in but you got too.’
That reads as trite and glib; but its strength is its simplicity. Briefly, Miliband overcame his wonkish predilection to over-complicate, proving that he actually can communicate. That said, he neither looks nor sounds like a PM in waiting.
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Maggie
August 25th, 2010 6:27pm Report this commentIs Miliband obliged to account for his £300,000 leadership campaign funds? He seems to have spent most of it so far on newspaper and TV coverage. I suppose that's what Diane Abbott meant when she said he was buying the leadership.
Rhoda Klapp
August 25th, 2010 6:27pm Report this commentI can never remember which one is the prat, and which the idiot.
Janny
August 25th, 2010 6:29pm Report this commentIs that last quote really the best example of Miliband being clear and direct? Crikey.
TrevorsDen
August 25th, 2010 6:37pm Report this commentIt reads as trite and glib because it IS trite and glib.
If Miliband is going to be nice to the middle classes then can he say where all the money he wants to spend will come from?
Where has any leadership candidate said that a future Labour govt must live within its (the couintry's) means?
'learn but not repudiate' is simply code for 'keep quiet about us electing Brown'
Richard of York
August 25th, 2010 6:45pm Report this comment@Rhoda
Let me help you out
Cameron is the Prat and Clegg is the idiot.
simple!
Frank P
August 25th, 2010 6:57pm Report this commentRhoda
You don't have to; just remember who the father was and it becomes irrelevant. Spawn of the devil.
victor jara 67
August 25th, 2010 8:40pm Report this commentHe is not backing the David Its okay to torture and the Iraq war was a good idea Miliband!
What about his moral compass
strapworld
August 25th, 2010 8:42pm Report this commentMr Blackburn.. I'M NOT BOVVERED!!!
Please give us a break. You are trying to put life into a dead contest. The brothers Grimm, Ed Ballsup, whoever does it matter?
Can you just remember that what interests you in that bubble has no real concern for the rest (majority) of the country!!
Jason
August 25th, 2010 8:46pm Report this commentIf he wants to appeal to Middle Britain he had better learn that the English language employs the letter T and it expects to be pronounced.
Stuart Seacole Smith
August 26th, 2010 9:17am Report this commentLabour's candidates really are a motley crew. Normally a party with potential leaders like these would just about get a forlorn wave in before disappearing round the u-bend. But, that would be to forget the blind pig-ignorant unthinking and unknowing nature of the labour core vote.
For the moment at least the leadership "battle" (... kerfuffle?) is nothing but a vaguely amusing freakshow. My personal favourite is Ed Miliband, he's really good he is!
Fex Urbis
August 26th, 2010 2:04pm Report this commentCan the Speccie try and find someone, anyone, who'se been to a 'I love Deidre Miliband' drinks party. Were there nibbles? Were the drinks chilled? Was the hoovering done well? (or not) and most importantly was a phone call recieved from the great man?
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