Peter Hoskin

Another one for Miliband’s collection of cock-ups

Great spot by Paul Waugh, who’s got evidence of the latest Miliband cock-up over at his blog.  Basically, Miliband told the Commons earlier this week that British aid to India would be decreased and eventually stopped because “India is becoming a richer country”.  But now he’s had to sneak out a complete retraction, which even makes reference to India’s “continuing levels of poverty”:

“We have no plans to scale down the provision of aid to India, nor to stop the provision of aid by 2011.  Our aid expenditure under current spending plans amounts to £285m in 2008/09, £275m in 2009/10, and £280m in 2010/11. These figures reflect India’s continuing levels of poverty, with over 450 million Indians living on less than $1.25 a day, but also its own achievements in generating wealth.”

After the abortive coup of last summer, the banana and Heseltine moments, the embarrassing trip to India, his failure to follow James Purnell’s lead during the recent spate of ministerial resignations, and now this, you’d think that few people would take Miliband seriously any more.  But I still find it remarkable how may Labour folk I speak to still regard him as leadership material.

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