The ballot closes
Peter Hoskin 5:56pm
"Quietly confident." That's how Diane Abbott felt as the Labour leadership ballot entered its final hours today. I can only assume that she meant "…of victory," but the
bookies, and all sensible observers, are telling a different story. With the polls now closed, Ladbrokes has David Miliband as the 4/7 favourite, Ed Miliband is on 5/4, Ed
Balls and Andy Burnham are both 100/1 shots – and Abbott? Well, Abbott is wheezing along at 150/1.
Whoever wins, one thing is for certain: we are about to enter a new cycle in British politics, and one which should clear up a few itchingly persistent questions. How will the coalition fare against an opposition which actually has a proper leader in place? Who will be shadow chancellor? What will become of the losing Miliband? And will Labour manage to concoct a coherent economy policy in the 13 days it has before the Spending Review?
To my mind, it is the last of these questions which is, in many ways, the most important. How Labour strikes out should determine the contours of our political landscape. A Balls style approach, and we'll be into "investment vs cuts" all over again. A Darling style approach, and subtler arguments about the "right type of cuts" should drift to the fore. Much will depend, of course, on who occupies the shadow chancellorship – and on how much influence they are permitted to wield.
I, for one, would prefer Labour to veer towards fiscal sanity. It might make them more electable, sure – but it would also harden the consensus around spending cuts. We have already seen, over a decade long period, how the Fiscal Incontinents can warp the economic debate. It would be a pity if, unrestrained, they get another chance.
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sinosimon
September 22nd, 2010 6:13pm Report this commentbut labour can't veer towards fiscal sanity......for to do so would entail admitting that the cabinet all sat there like the innumerate muppets they are whilst brown poured money down the client state drain for a decade, and said nothing.
apart from balls of course, who actually designed the vast majority of the lunatic waste.
an outbreak of honesty, a truth and accounting reconciliation commission, would be a wonderful thing. don't hold your breath.
whichever of the milimarxists gets it, the ghost of their class hate father will be on their shoulders crying 'remember me!'
Walsingham's Ghost
September 22nd, 2010 6:23pm Report this commentDiane Abbott - don't you just love her...
Jessica
September 22nd, 2010 6:31pm Report this commentgood luck David Miliband. I hope the labour party have voted with their heads. If not,I am sure the Americans will find a way to snap you up. They know quality when they see it.
Roger Davies
September 22nd, 2010 6:52pm Report this commentMs. Abbott is just polishing her politico chat show CV.
As for Jessica, well don't you just give that word "quality" a bad name. Most here would contribute for a one-way ticket for Milli.D and Milli.E and their spawn if the US would take them. Reconstituted Commies in sheep's clothing.
In2minds
September 22nd, 2010 7:04pm Report this commentJessica - Can you explain why the US would want a gormless geek? And one of ours, they've got enough of their own.
Nicholas
September 22nd, 2010 7:27pm Report this commentCan't really see this "new cycle in British politics" given that bar one all the contestants in Labour's Got Talent were members of the post-Blair politburo. Ok, Kirkcaldy's answer to Brezhnev has now gone to save Africa but no doubt the winner will give mollifying shadow cabinet positions to his unsuccessful rivals. Maybe even that fat hypocrite will get something - shadow minister for rolling eyes and choirs maybe. Mr Ed the Whore Whisperer can depend on Labour's well established nepotism for something to keep him in the style accustomed whilst Blubbery Bruiser Balls will no doubt still be hulking in the picture and blinking away with that annoyingly impeded and whining bleat. The Little Fascist with the Big Eyelashes will get something where he can whine about the need for more stringent controls on blogs and for police spy drones to watch us all in our back gardens in case we are putting rubbish in the wrong bin.
Quality, Jessica? That just goes to show how this country has been dumbed down and declined. You can find this "quality" and the meaningless jargon that goes with it in any middle management tier of a provincial supermarket.
New cycle? An era of stupefying mediocrity with pillocks like these five (the Fatuous Five) presuming to talk for us more like.
Dave B
September 22nd, 2010 7:56pm Report this comment"What would you do" is the question anyone opposing reduced public spending should be asked regularly.
Reason Magazine have a fun looking Halloween issue "How to slash government spending" :-)
http://reason.com/see-reason-in-3d
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/31086?in=14:38&out=28:11
Senor Frizby
September 22nd, 2010 8:49pm Report this commentNicholas
Well said! Couldn't agree more. We can't afford Labour lunacy anymore and above all, we don't want it.
Noa Zrk
September 22nd, 2010 9:27pm Report this commentWG
"Diane Abbott - don't you just love her..."
I'm sure that, come the dawning of reality, I can find her a P/T job cleaning the house. Provided that is, if she shut up and got on with it, her opinions arn't worth a damn.
BTW given the upper lip I see one of the Millies has reached puberty in the photo, nice!
JohnAnt
September 22nd, 2010 10:00pm Report this commentStudying the extraordinarily similar body language of the two in recent photos, I come to the conclusion that they are not competing for the same job, they are competing for an identity.
The one who wins - as in Frazer's 'The Golden Bough' - will have the right to kill the other.
Having said which, I find both Miniblands equally unappetizing.
Fex Urbis
September 22nd, 2010 10:04pm Report this commentStill don't really understand why anyone rates David Miliband, I'm not sure that he's ever done anything that wasn't utter crap. Add in a handy torture enquiry and Labour will be looking for a new leader within 12 months.
Paul D Williams
September 24th, 2010 2:34pm Report this commentWhere are the principles? We don't quality superbrains we need integrity, determination and politcal morality. Agree with him or disagree with him Milliband Senior had all of this. How much have his sons given away to assume power. Power at any price, no thanks!
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