Which Miliband?
Jonathan Jones 3:55pm
Don't be too hard on the Independent leader writer and proof
readers. Ed or David Miliband? It's an easy mistake to make. John Humphrys got it wrong on the Today programme back in May, and even Ed's own deputy, Harriet Harman, slipped up. "I hope we will have David, er, Ed, Ed
Miliband elected as Prime Minister at the next election," she told Woman's Hour during the Labour conference in
September. At least Harman corrected herself, as the Independent now have on their website. This Daily Mail article from June still carries the wrong caption.
But this affliction is even more widespread than that. Back in July, YouGov showed 1,265 people a picture of Ed Miliband. 80 per cent correctly identified him and 8 per cent said they weren't sure who it was. 10 per cent were sure: "David Miliband", they said.
Embarrassment aside, the real concern for Ed is that this may, in many cases, be wishful thinking. In September, YouGov found that 30 per cent of the public think David would make the best Labour leader, against just 9 per cent for Ed. And 36 per cent say Labour would've been better off had they chosen David last year (including 45 per cent of the party's voters).
One thing's for sure: if David had been elected leader, nobody would accidentally be calling him Ed.
Previous
Jayu
November 7th, 2011 4:05pm Report this commentWhat's the betting that even their mother calls them by the wrong name from time to time? Just as my mother does with me and my brothers, just like siblings the world all over.
This is a common occurrence for siblings who share the same friends and work colleagues. Just ask Angela and Marie Eagles, or any one of the vast Freud clan.
This type of article just typifies the lazy and pathetic political commentary that we have on offer nowadays. The commentators have a meme to follow, and write accordingly.
Herr Kartoffelkopf
November 7th, 2011 4:30pm Report this commentJayu: 'The commentators have a meme to follow, and write accordingly'
As, it seems, do you!
Peter From Maidstone
November 7th, 2011 4:43pm Report this commentClearly you also have a meme to follow.
Sylva
November 7th, 2011 4:43pm Report this commentJayu you are absolutely right. Jonathan Jones should be ashame of such write up as a journalist. We need to read articles that has substance not trash about peoples personality.
Ed is Labour leader and he is doing his bit as the opposition leader to shape the country politics.
We have move on from this personality sheninigans.
I wonder who your editor is. You deserve to be sacked
Verityred
November 7th, 2011 4:46pm Report this commentHey Jayu, poor effort from Defend Ed at All Costs desk but I think the point Mr Jones makes stands. Milli E is just hopeless.
Back to the drawing board for you.
David Lindsay
November 7th, 2011 4:47pm Report this commentThis was not an accident. It was part of the never-ending media tantrum about not getting the Labour Leader that you wanted, a hardline neocon hawk and a man who, while running the Downing Street Policy Unit, devised all of the slashing and burning schemes that are now being implemented, plus others too vicious even for a Coalition unrestrained by Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband.
Under Ed Miliband, Labour is consistently ahead in the polls, usually quite comfortably. Fleet Street can report that or not, but you cannot alter it. Look out for what will be, for you, the toe-curling level of media regulation once he becomes Prime Minister and has all these old scores to settle.
Jayu
November 7th, 2011 5:13pm Report this comment@Herr Kartoffelkopf & others
Yes I do, and it is a wish to see a rise in the standards of political journalism and commentary. You may be happy to be constantly fed trivia and banality, centred around the personal and tittle tattle. I for one prefer policy arguments and differences, instead of these type of articles which either by accident or design are a distraction from the real issues.
Very soon, if we are not careful, all political commentary and journalism will come to us via press release.
Chris lancashire
November 7th, 2011 5:15pm Report this commentBoth geeks, both never done a proper job, both useless.
Everard
November 7th, 2011 8:46pm Report this commentRubbish attempt Jayu, you clearly have a meme to follow.
Eagle Owl
November 7th, 2011 9:43pm Report this comment@Jayu
You are reading a blog.
Dimoto
November 7th, 2011 11:30pm Report this commentIs there a "neither of the above" option ?
Sir Everard Digby
November 8th, 2011 7:22am Report this commentJayu,
You miss the point.The media are not Milliband's relatives and an aspiring leader of the country should be worried that he is being confused with someone else and therefore lacks an identity. He can have the finest policies on the planet but image seems to be everything in politics.
If you,like me,would like politics to be a serious business once again,this is not an issue which is a good starting point for such a campaign.
The lazy media are part of the problem,not the solution.
Frank Leader
November 13th, 2011 1:02pm Report this commentBoth the Milibands are sons of a Marxist Refugee/immigrant. RALPH (Adolph) Miliband his views were completely alien to our way of life. He was a Marxist Lecturer at the LSE. He was absolutely no use to this Country. His useless existence ended with his death in 1994. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery near his Hero Karl Marx.
With their background I consider them to be closet subversives and potentially very dangerous. They have no part to play in a democratic society.
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