No, I don’t think so. Do you? Really? On the other hand, Danny Finkelstein thinks that David Miliband’s piece in the Guardian this morning signals his determination to be a candidate to succeed Gordon Brown. Rosa Prince agrees.
And there was me thinking that Miliband is the intelligent one. Doesn’t he remember William Hague’s example, doomed to become party leader too young and at the worst possible moment. There’s precious little upside in being the next Labour leader, whether the changeover takes place this year or next. Better by far to back a caretaker such as Jack Straw – the only politician named by Miliband in his piece – and succeed him once some of the shine has been knocked off the new Tory government and once, of course, Labour has begun its penance in opposition.
Right now, however, the danger for Miliband, surely, is that he may be seen as Labour’s Portillo: wanting the crown but being afraid to strike, brought down by a curious indecision and lack of real judgement.
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