Why would Ed Miliband even want to woo Russell Brand?

The Sun reports this morning that Ed Miliband recently made a late-night visit to Russell Brand’s £2 million home. Details on what was discussed remain unknown, although Labour has now confirmed that rather than Miliband’s own François Hollande moment, or a pre-emptive mansion tax inspection, it was in fact an interview.

A friend of mine lives opposite Russell Brand and snapped this picture of Ed Milliband leaving his house…urm pic.twitter.com/kHGVWFbpVZ

— Elisa Misu Solaris (@ElisaMisu) April 27, 2015

However, if Miliband is to appear in an episode of Brand’s online show The Trews, it’s unclear what the Labour leader hopes to gain from it. Is this really an endorsement any serious potential Prime Minister would want? Brand, after all, isn’t exactly known for his searing political insight. He believes the economy is ‘not real, that’s why it’s got the word “con” in it’ and that it is ‘just a metaphorical device’. Still, at least Miliband had the brains not to bring Ed Balls along with him; Brand has previously described him as a ‘clicky-wristed … snidey c***’. Mr S will be interested to see how Miliband deals with some of Brand’s more outré claims, such as his ‘pay less tax’ plan:

‘Take away corporate power. Don’t cooperate. Organise, don’t pay your mortgages, don’t pay your taxes’.

Or this innovative way to deal with debt:

‘Cancelling personal debt would stimulate the economy more than any ‘too big to fail’ bank quantitative easing’

Though perhaps they will find some common ground on business?

‘Profit is the most profane word we have. In its pursuit we have forgotten that while individual interests are being met, we as a whole are being annihilated’

A line that could well have come from Miliband’s 2011 ‘predators’ conference speech. Miliband had best stay away from talking about acts of terrorism such as 9/11, which Brand suggested could be the result of a conspiracy:

‘We have to remain open-minded to any kind of possibility. Do you trust the American government?’

Neither socialist cares for David Cameron either, with Brand famously telling Newsnight:

‘I think a socialist egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth, heavy taxation of corporations, and massive responsibility for energy companies and any companies exploiting the environment. I think the very concept of profit should be hugely reduced. David Cameron says profit isn’t a dirty word; I say profit is a filthy word’

Happily, the feeling appears to be mutual with Cameron today criticising Miliband for befriending Brand:

‘Russell Brand is a joke. Ed Miliband meeting him is a joke. This election isn’t funny.’

That said, Steerpike hopes Miliband is at least tough enough to stand up to nonsense like this:

'Total revolution of consciousness and our entire social, political and economic system is what interests me, but that's not on the ballot.' Last but not least, only last week Mr S witnessed Brand unable to find a good word to say about Miliband at the screening of his new film the Emperor's New Clothes. Brand couldn't even bear to suggest that Miliband was lovely:

'When I watch it [the Emperor's New Clothes], I sort of think come on Russell people really want to hear you say something about the election like Caroline Lucas is lovely, or Natalie Bennett is lovely, or Tom Watson is lovely or Ed Miliband is really trying his hardest, but when I watch this I think 'nooo! Justice!' It's not enough because I don't like the agenda being set from above.' All will be revealed to Brand's loyal following on YouTube in due course. It's almost enough to make you forget it's Ed Balls Day.