So Mister Ed won... by a very slim 1.3% against his torture colluding big brother.
Though it can be said that MPs/MEPs and ordinary LP members are apparently happy to overlook Miliband the elder’s warmongering and torture cover-ups as that’s where he won in the specific sections.
Interviewed by Andrew Marr this morning Mister Ed still came across as defensive and worried that his own shadow might become politically embarrassing in front of the cameras. Some acceptance that NL did not always get it right was about as far as he allowed himself to go. At the end of the interview in relation to Tony Bliar and Peter Mandelson he stressed that his door was open for such characters and that they had “wisdom” (well it could be said if you can get away with invading another country and end up a seriously rich man as a result of being a public servant then there is something about you…more criminal cunning than wisdom though).
On the prospect of the cuts and resistance to the people forced into strikes to defend their jobs and services against the ideologically inspired cuts of the ConDems can expect nothing from Mister Ed. His “strikes must be a last resort” and “sign of desperation” urging of both sides to get round and sort things out through negotiations suggest strongly that Mr Ed will continue the non-support for justified industrial action that he showed during the Vestas dispute (strikes are a sign of determination btw Mister Ed). There was no sense of outrage at what is about to happen to people. No pointing out how such a policy is proving counter-productive in the Republic of Ireland. If you are unwilling to directly support struggles at least attack the intellectual basis of the ConDem attack on public services.
The establishment seem quite upset that the leader of the Labour Party is not quite as tame as they would like. Given how tame Mr Ed is what would they be happy with? Someone who stuck to denouncing the Left? Somebody seriously relaxed about the filthy rich? Somebody foaming at the mouth to attack Iran?
Over the years “realism” has made the labour movement happy to accept so little. We should be organising to take much much more.
See also:
It takes so little to upset the Tories and their press, doesn’t it? Cue the Mail on Sunday’s unhinged attacks on Ed Mili for daring to have children out of wedlock (and, really, who these days uses the word ‘wedlock’?!). And ta for the link above.
It is sooooh laughable, “Ed Miliband becomes first British political leader of a major party to be living with his family out of wedlock”…
Crikey, it shows that they have dug out the child’s birth certificate to see whether Ed’s name is on there. FFS! Just how 1950s is the Daily Hate. Has it occurred to the numpties that nobody gives a damn any longer except sad right-wingers obsessed with sticking their nose in things that don’t concern them along with “family values”…. Next I expect them to describe Ed’s partner as a “wanton woman”… I don’t, majority of people out there, don’t … the only thing that concerns me is Mister Ed’s politics. Not his private life.
A politician’s private life only becomes relevant if it contradicts their public statements and policies. For example publicly promoting marital faithfulness whilst carrying on extra-marital affairs or campaigning against prostitution whilst regularly using it’s services.
Stephen
Strangely, it does mean something to me if a father has bothered or not to put his name on his child’s birth certificate. The father of my children didn’t bother. It actually stinks if it is true.
Thanks for posting this Harpy.
I got so bored with Marr, and annoyed at Polly Toynbee and Aaronvitch wispering venom against Unions that I turned the telly off before it got to Miliband.
The cuts are very dramatic here: Suffolk County Council is hiving off *all* its services:
http://tendancecoatesy.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/suffolk-county-council-from-democracy-to-enabling/
http://tendancecoatesy.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/suffolk-county-council-cuts-go-ahead-first-wave-of-transfers-looms/
Cheers Andrew, thanks for the info regarding the cuts. It is really bad what’s happening to the public services there.
What I find a little unsettling (already) is that Ed wouldn’t have got the job without trade union support and without lefties like me giving him our second preference. He said that he wants to repay the trust invested in him but seems to want to cosy up with the people who did not vote for him instead.
And yes, the apathy and indifference over DM’s approach to torture is driving me barmy – it’s as if people are just shrugging their shoulders and carrying on as if it’s no big deal.
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But dude – he’s so electable. A candidate could be videoed dropping a cat into a bin, clambering in and holding an impromptu menage a trois with the hapless pet and a startled mouse. If they were electable it wouldn’t make a difference.
Bensix, LOL!!
So true!! But you have left me with an image in my head that I can’t shake…..
Well, the way I look at it is Ed Miliband is NOT Gordon Brown.
A big improvement then…
I disagree. This will upset many Labour supporters I bet…
Firstly, the leadership candidates were all a poor selection.
Secondly, Ed will become a worse leader than Gordon Brown (you might need to read that a few times; I realise Gordon was useless).
Thirdly, at this rate Labour has absolutely no chance of getting back into power unless a new General Election is set for early 2011 and Labour promises to scrap these cuts or reverse them and keep VAT at 17.5%.