Miliband on manoeuvres
James Forsyth 9:14am
The Sunday Times reports this morning that David Miliband is readying himself for a run at the leadership. A source close to Miliband tells the paper that “David is not going to do anything until a vacancy arises, but he is ready to go for it. There will be no public display from him in the next few weeks but he and his supporters will be making it clear to backbenchers that there is an alternative to Gordon.”
Miliband’s plan reflects a phenomenal sense of entitlement. He plans to leave to his colleagues the grubby and difficult task of prising Brown from Number 10. He will then glide into the leadership contest expecting the support of those who have just risked their careers to remove the Prime Minister.
The question Labour MPs have to ask themselves about Miliband is why would floating voters pick him over Cameron? They are both the very model of a modern politician; young, affable and not particularly ideological. Considering that Cameron has already cornered the market in this, Miliband would have trouble in giving these voters a compelling reason to switch. Indeed, all three party leaders would be remarkably similar but with Cameron as by far the best established brand—something that can only work to the Tory leader’s advantage.
If Miliband was PM, it would mean that Labour couldn’t make a big deal of Cameron and Osborne’s lack of experience in the general election campaign. Such attacks simply wouldn’t seem credible coming from a party led by a 42 year old. One also wonders whether Miliband—who was too frit to challenge Brown for the leadership last year—has the essential toughness that a Prime Minister needs.
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Comments
Perry
May 25th, 2008 10:11amWith Balls, the Beloved Son, as Chancellor perhaps? . . . . wowee
Dulce et decorum est...
May 25th, 2008 10:16amHow sweet it is to watch New Labour imploding.
Bernard from Horsham
May 25th, 2008 10:38amMilliband and Balls as a double act. How many MPs would Labour be left with ?? less than 100?
Oblivion ......
sonia
May 25th, 2008 10:46amMiliband is an immature and arrogant second-rater. What's more he is also Blair's poodle.
Commondog
May 25th, 2008 10:48amIf I were a Tory and believed in all this panto, this would be the best news possible.
If made leader, Milliband's automaton pronouncements and click-heeled delivery will see off any lingering fancy of a Labour return.
Knocking bet.
Water
May 25th, 2008 11:22am"If Miliband was PM, it would mean that Labour couldn’t make a big deal of Cameron and Osborne’s lack of experience in the general election campaign." this said Miliband would be their best option though it’s a double edge endeavour.
Elle
May 25th, 2008 11:29amThey would be much better placed with Straw at the Helm. He comes from the days before Blair, he is experienced, he is confident, he is a statesman.
salieri
May 25th, 2008 11:40amIf Milliband WERE PM, please.
Steve Day
May 25th, 2008 11:43amIf Miliband is appointed Labour leader then that's it for the country, remember the devils eye's 1st pictured by the Conservatives on Blair & they were proved correct, Miliband has the horns to go with the eyes.
TrevorH
May 25th, 2008 12:13pmMilliband is the son of a dyed in the wool Marxist - so why should he not feel a sense of entitlement.
I suppose high profile ministers might think they can buck a swing but some of the people waiting for a chance after the next election may not be there to profit from a defeat.
But just how compos mentis are Labour Dauphins? Do they think the economy can recover? Have they understood what has been happening to the UK economy these last 10 years? If they remain as clueless they might even think they have a chance of recovery and so sit on their hands.
Quite frankly they find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
mitch
May 25th, 2008 12:20pmThe sheer talent knows no beginning! Ed Balls oh dear we are doomed.
Pete
May 25th, 2008 1:48pmWatched the Prescott comeback interview this morning.
Labour really must be panicking!
Charlie T
May 25th, 2008 2:36pmIts all nonsense Milliband is a jellyfish.The only man who could outgun Mandelson in a superciliousness face off.As for Straw how can anyone think he is leadership material? His career peaked in the NUS.Just the sight of him on telly stuttering and stammering would cost Labour about 50 seats.
Anan
May 25th, 2008 2:55pmThere's only one thing to say to this: LOL!
john problem
May 25th, 2008 3:41pmNone of the hopefuls has any worthwhile experience outside of politics, so nothing will change. The Harvard Gang - Milibands 1 and 2, Balls and Cooper - are not good for Brown. He's not slick enough. But the Postman could do it. Or the lady with the rockery garden. But best of all would be Prescott. What a combination! What a Coalition! Him and Boris running the country - wow!
Frank Pulley
May 25th, 2008 4:01pmMiliband Bros are the heirs to a subversive intellectual Gramsci inspired socialist elite that is the tap root of the disastrous counter-cultural hegemony that now permeates the corridors of power of this country and Europe's unelected bullyocracy. (Google up "Ralph Miliband" to see what I mean). What worries me is that the current Conservative opposition makes some of the noises emitting from their top table during the last couple of years. One fervently hopes it is only a ruse to catch the votes of the gullible - as it certainly worked for the left for the last decade. It is comforting that the electorate seem more inclined to think Tory at the moment, even if DC isn't, and we have the grotesque Brown to thank for that. However, when Gerald Scarfe, who is a leftie himself, turns against you, as he did against our Great Leader in the S Times cartoon today, you really are Brown bread.
Frank Pulley
May 25th, 2008 4:04pmBtw; if he does stand for leader, it will be the Irish Jig that does for him. Did he have it shaped in a plastic factory?
Water
May 25th, 2008 4:09pmIn between Miliband and Balls Miliband wins it for me. Balls has admitted he’s not up to the position intellectually which speaks volumes. This said as many reservation as people may have about his character I doubt he would have all the mistakes Gordon has in the not too distant past were he in a decision making role. This said whoever takes on the labour seat is doomed.
dearieme
May 25th, 2008 5:08pmVote, vote, vote for Pipsqueak Rubberband
Nicholas
May 25th, 2008 6:11pm"They would be much better placed with Straw at the Helm. He comes from the days before Blair, he is experienced, he is confident, he is a statesman."
I hadn't noticed that. Conniving political weasel more like. And pretty mediocre in his ministerial jobs.
Perry
May 25th, 2008 6:21pmContrast this child with the men that Fraser is meeting even now in Afghanistan. Who is this little twerp that he dares to voice opinions, - about anything that matters?
Tina
May 25th, 2008 7:31pmFor God sake most people in the country wouldn't know Milliband if he was sat next to them. It's Johnson or nothing!
Tanuki
May 25th, 2008 9:21pmWhy am I watching Labour's current situation with a wonderful sense of schadenfreude?
Who in their right mind would be stupid enough to accept the poisoned chalice of the Labour leadership? It's like being nominated for the role of crash-test-dummy in a car without seatbelts or airbags.
Ian C
May 25th, 2008 10:14pmI have only read the S/Times today but the gap between what I have read (Martin Ivens and the leader) what Prescott and Johnson said on A Marr Show today was large. I somehow think that the press are more in touch.
It was again very indicative of how out of touch with reality the Gov't benches are. Their ability to deny the seriousness of their mistake in putting GB there unopposed last year, and al that has flowed form that, is still being denied.
And while Prezza's urging of them to concentrate on their purpose is commendable as it is principled (for a change) it is the wrong thing for the Labour party to do - but we should not complain!
Matthew Blott
May 25th, 2008 11:27pmSomething needs to be cleared up here regarding Miliband's reluctance to challenge Gordon Brown last year. He was prepared to go for it but after canvassing opinion found he didn't have sufficient support. Moreover, a lot were actually urging him not to stand (a mistake on their part) because they believed Brown was a shoo-in and any challenge to this inevitability was divisive and would look bad on the challenger. I will out myself and say I am a Miliband fan even if this admission does invite the wrath of Spectator bloggers :-)
A final point as well - even Brown's enemies who thought he might be a problem didn't anticipate he would prove this inept at being Prime Minister which was another reason they thought it was best to let him get on with it.
Commondog
May 26th, 2008 8:30amFrank Pulley.
Is that really a syrup?
Matthew Blott.
I'm genuinely interested: how has Milliband won you over?
Matthew Blott
May 26th, 2008 10:45am@ Frank Pulley
I understand Miliband has his flaws (which many may gleefully point out after this post) but I think he conducts himself well, is a decent communicator and speaks clearly. My respect for him increased considerably a few months ago during an interview with Jeremy Paxman when Miliband's interviewer became rattled - the first time I've ever seen that happen (how that guy's sneering interview style has evaded a smack in the gob by someone I really don't know).
Frank Pulley
May 26th, 2008 10:59amCommondog
Surely it can't be real? Not even within the bounds of today's outrageous climate of coiffure? Perhaps he uses axle
grease to mould it into shape, but it's still highly suspect IMHO. And I'm sure Mr Blott didn't need to be won over, he was a shoo-in. It's the political pedigree, y'know.