Mumsnet Talk

Cooper, Balls or the other Miliband?

Or someone else?

Ed Miliband is a DISASTER.

Eddie Izzard

i think a wise head would stay the hell away from it. they aren't going to win next time, so better let someone else take the fall.

The other miliband would have been a better choice last time though.

Sadly, I think the Tories will win with a majority next time anyway. I would like to hope there's someone in the wings who could sort them out, but I see no signs. Personally I'd be very happy to be lead by Harman, but that's not likely to happen!

With the right leader they could win next time. Need to hammer the LDs. I would like to see Yvette Cooper in charge. Ed has been very disappointing.

Who's good in the new intake? We need to see new talent coming up to support the leadership. I read a piece about a female MP, very strong background in economics and her name was Rachel....but I can't think of her surname

Yeah but at the moment voters are punishing the lib dems and not the Tories... How do you turn that around? I'm not optimistic.

That is Rachel Reeves.

Yvette cooper won't get a chance whilst Balls thinks he has one. Think she's more potential than him though.

I like Harriet Harman but she won't get the popularity.

Must be a newbie out there?

He's too green right now, but I'm keeping my eye on Chuka Umunna. He was my MP and I quite liked him. He's being billed as the British Barack Obama.

Rachel Reeves is awesome. Definitely one to watch.

Rachel Reeves! Thank you! One to watch I think.

dreaming how interesting. I know Mr Umunna is being touted as future leader. I think he has stone cold shark eyes, i thought the same about Blair, and was roundly shouted down and informed he was in fact The Second Coming.

Couple of illegal wars later....
I'm heart broken with the Labour Party at the moment. They seem spent.

Oh, please don't say Cooper. Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.

I like watching the news. Don't ruin it for me.

I think Douglas Alexander has a reasonable chance.

Gossip has it that Balls and Cooper had a Christmas party at their house for around 30 of their friends... one of the guests asked one of the Balls/Cooper children : "So, are you going to be the next Labour leader" to which the child answered "No, that's mummy" Allegedly.

Surely Balls/Cooper aren't planning to stab the Dear Leader in the back....?

Sorry to say it, but Rachel Reeves comes across as being a bit thick and very annoying. Cooper is VASTLY superior in the intelligence stakes, but equally annoying.

I quite like Sexy Eyes Andy Burnham these days. But of the names so far mentioned, Eddie Izzard is the most exciting.

But what about David Miliband? He's too clever to take it on at this point isn't he?

Not Burnham - he's great on Health, but only really Health. Not enough experience elsewhere, and he's not exactly Mr Charisma.

I'd be happy with either Cooper or Balls, but especially Balls.

And no, not David Miliband either. What's wrong with EdM is also what's wrong with DavidM - there's just no oomph there, no charisma, no charm. Both intelligent and likeable, but they just don't have what it takes to get someone to put a cross in a box for them as PM.

I saw Rachel Reeves at the conference and she was great at fielding and answering questions.

for me though I would go for Kate Green as she's brilliant (she won't get it but should)

Paul Mason (BBC) would make a good Labour leader. He is completley brazen about his pro Labour views.

Chuka Umuuna sounds very calm and clear on telly. Shouldn't be a factor but it's inescapable as a quality these days.

Ed just seems scared to take a position on anything for fear of upsetting someone and it just feels woolly.

I like Ed Miliband. He has grown on me. He comes across as pretty genuine and handles all the pressure and attacks on him with dignity. The public want genuine people, not shifty grafters, and I think Ed Miliband will grow on the public over time as they see how well he has handled all the flak that he is getting.

Encouraging to hear that the Balls/Cooper child can see the future.

All those intelligence genes...and such humility too...

Chuka is being built up to take over, I'm sure.

The next one has absolutely got to be a success.

Having two unmitigated disasters in a row is dismal. Having a third would be really really really bad.