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Original poster

Is Ed Miliband responsible for the state we are in?

89 replies

IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 19:02

By running against his brother for party leader, changing the rules to vote for Labour leadership (enabling Corbyn's rise) and refusing to support Cameron in Obama's desire to move into Syria I read an article that blamed Brexit and Trump on Ed. Is this reasonable to make one person responsible for so much?

OP posts:
BackInTime · 20/07/2019 21:27

No I blame Cameron for giving into a referendum without giving serious thought or having a plan on how Brexit could be delivered without risking peace in NI, the breakup of the UK and serious economic consequences.

soulrunner · 20/07/2019 21:23

Also if TB hadnt gone ahead with the Iraq war then ISIS couldn't have gotten such a strong hold over Syria

That assumes US wouldn’t have done it anyway

soulrunner · 20/07/2019 21:21

You mean the Lib Dem’s? I think there are two factors

  • only safe home for remainers
  • can take the middle ground that Labour stupidly abandoned post Blair.
Hazardtired · 20/07/2019 21:21

Surely it's Tony Blair's fault? (If I'm following the theory...) Ed as labour leader couldn't be seen to support any kind of war because of TB's actions. Also if TB hadnt gone ahead with the Iraq war then ISIS couldn't have gotten such a strong hold over Syria and then there wouldn't have been a refugee crisis.

I may be biased as I liked Ed. I miss Ed. Now I'm all nostalgic Grin

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 21:16

As someone living abroad I have been surprised to see the Social Democrats rising from the ashes, despite Cleggs massive betrayal of students. Do you think it is because people are willing to give them a chance as there really isn't anyone else if you don't want to vote Tory? Is it because they are the only ones pro-Europe and openly Remain?

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SaskiaRembrandt · 20/07/2019 21:11

Ida I don't think that was his fault. By that point Labour had had that long run in power, people had become disillusioned with them, especially after Blair and the Iraq war, then the financial crash left so many people so much worse off, and the Tories were quick to blame Labour for that. Labour were in the same unelectable position the Tories were in during the late 90s and early 00s. I don't believe they would have won that election with or without Ed.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 21:11

Yes Iggly I would absolutely agree that economic uncertainty is at the root of our current political mess. So much of the world is suffering the ongoing effects of the financial crisis (that is only papered over). Large majorities of people in the west are experiencing financial insecurity and fears about their financial future and this is stoking so much of the rise of populism.

The risk has been transferred to the general population while those doing the gambling are reaping the benefits. "Privatizing profits and socializing losses".

OP posts:
soulrunner · 20/07/2019 21:10

Does anyone know if the Milibands still speak to each other?

TipseyTorvey · 20/07/2019 21:06

Ida I agree with you. I think Ed destroyed the Labour party's electability and since then it's been a slow but terrifying descent into right wing nuttery. Having no electable centre left party means Boris will rule. Terrifying 😔

mummmy2017 · 20/07/2019 21:05

EM was a pivot, the union's put him there.
David M would have won hands down, so many of us were seriously thinking of voting for him, and I am a Tory
I well remember that night, Ed bought out that ten foot stone tablet, so sure he would win. The party was planned , food drink all laid out....that was how sure he was of wining....
The shock from DC when he had to hold the EU vote... .

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 21:02

Saskia I would disagree with you there as Ed was the Labour leader when they lost the election to Cameron.

OP posts:
Iggly · 20/07/2019 21:02

I actually blame the rise in deregulation in the financial markets for the mess we are in, including Brexit.

Investment bankers were given far far too much leeway to gamble. As a result, they grew bloated and when they fucked up (sub prime mortgages and associated complex financial instruments), governments felt they had to bail them out.

Thus followed the $trillions bailouts by American, European and the Bank of England.

Money was sucked out to prop up banks. Leaving the rest of us with austerity and fractions in politics.

It’s a fucking mess and people are still trying to pin the blame on the wrong individuals.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 21:01

I should explain I was out of the country and not paying much attention to the Miliband brothers rise so really don't know much about them at all. I was doing background reading for my own enlightenment and that's when I decided to start this goady thread.

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 20/07/2019 20:58

Yes the article has no great analysis, I was just throwing it out there to get a sense of how MN readers felt. Amazing what ancient history it all feels now.

Yes, it seems like a long time ago. I think Tory supporters will scramble around trying to blame someone else for the mess they have made. However, EM is not responsible. The Tory party are.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 20:51

What is sad as far as the sibling factor goes is that David apparently shared with his brother all his plans and tactics for the race ahead before he knew Ed was running.

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Loopytiles · 20/07/2019 20:48

Agree that he shouldn’t have run against David, since David would obviously be far more “electable” as PM.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 20:47

Yes the article has no great analysis, I was just throwing it out there to get a sense of how MN readers felt. Amazing what ancient history it all feels now.

Perking I absolutely agree with your opinions of these politicians. We are now held hostage. Unbelievable that we are about to enter into such a signficant time in "how stuff is" without even knowing who our leader is.

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FourCandelabras · 20/07/2019 20:44

I often think this and feel sad about it. David would have been genuinely electable, and, I believe, would have been PM. So much could have been different... If only!

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 20:42

Well obviously it was a platitude to describe our current life as "how stuff is" in the first place.

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SaskiaRembrandt · 20/07/2019 20:36

I've read the 'article' - Walmsley just (badly) outlines a list of things that happened then blames Ed Milband for them without explaining why.

History is the recording of “how stuff is”

History is the study of the past. There is no 'how stuff is' in reputable history.

PerkingFaintly · 20/07/2019 20:26

I know, OnlyFoolsnMothers.

I thought I couldn't despise any modern politician more than I do Blair.

How wrong I was.

I thought Blair made horrific mistakes because, in his overweening arrogance, he imagined he knew best what was right for the country (and world).

Cameron? May? Johnson?

They don't give a shit what's best for the country. The first two only cared about what (they imagined) was best for the Tory party.

The third cares only about what's best for B Johnson.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 20:26

History is the recording of “how stuff is”.

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Imstickingwiththisone · 20/07/2019 20:25

Yes so many people still (rightly) pissed off about Blair and Iraq affected the support of either Milliband brother.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 20/07/2019 20:25

Here is the original article in by Craig Walmsley in Medium from 2017
medium.com/@craig_walmsley/this-is-all-ed-milibands-fault-f221341eb108

I knew it would get everyone in a lather but I am genuinely interested. I am a Brit who has been living overseas for over 20 years and therefore has been unable to vote for a long time. My family were traditional Labour voters, both parents were from working-class backgrounds who became a teacher and a business executive, from London and the North East. If I could I have no idea who I would vote for.

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gamerwidow · 20/07/2019 20:21

We’re all responsible for this shit show.
-The leave campaign for lying.
-The leave voters for believing the lies.
-The remain campaign for being so piss poor.
-The remainers for being complacent and not getting off their arses in enough numbers to vote.

  • parliament for their stupid game playing around the votes on Brexit
  • the conservatives for Johnson/Hunt
  • Labour for Corbyn
Everyone is shit and we’ve got the politics we deserve!
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