Nick Robinson had an extraordinary claim (see update, below, for his clarification) in his blog last night that ‘the Labour leader’s aides say that he sees [his allegations about Lord Fink] as another Milly Dowler moment’. If Ed Miliband’s aides have really said this, they are exhibiting a crass, disgusting way of looking at politics. I asked his spokesman whether this is true. He said:
‘Ed is not comparing this to a Milly Dowler moment. This is about standing up for what is right, not making comparisons.’
I went back to the spokesman as this was not what Robinson had said. His blog had said that Miliband’s aides see this as a ‘Milly Dowler moment’. The spokesman responded:
‘I am his spokesperson. I am not and neither is Ed.’
This is still not a denial that other aides in Miliband’s team made the comparison, whether or not they were authorised by Miliband. I am contacting those aides now and will post any response below.
UPDATE: Nick Robinson has clarified his blog:
Calm down Twitter. I did not quote anyone re Ed M & Milly Dowler. Said his aides saw this as moment like that ie to stand up to powerful
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) February 12, 2015
This appears to be a misunderstanding. No-one in Labour used the phrase ‘Milly Dowler moment’. Which is good, not just from a decency point of view, but also because it would have rather diminished what Miliband saw as an important battle – and one he now appears to have won.
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