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Original poster

The Milibandwagon: Ed or David? David or Ed?

59 replies

policywonk · 01/12/2009 21:28

There's only one way to settle this, and that's with a hormonally-influenced barney on a mothers' talkboard.

I like a lot of what I've heard about Ed, but can't help thinking that he could do with more than one term in Parliament before people stuff him into the leadership (and from what I've read that's what he thinks too). David... I'm a bit, y'know, disappointed with all the torture and that

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onebatmother · 03/12/2009 07:59

but interesting.

MrsBlackbeard · 03/12/2009 01:23

Iv watched Dave M from the stranger gallery, looks like a giant gay stick insect.
The five sleepy Tories left in the chamber had him for seconds on there boozy lunch.
Not a good live debater.

onebatmother · 03/12/2009 01:11

hung parliament much more likely with electoral reform referendum on the table - well, on the table post-GE - don't you think? Unless DC matches it.

Apparently the least experienced contender usually wins leadership contest - the enmities are less entrenched. And they do say as how Burnham is looking tasty these days

TheCrackFox · 03/12/2009 00:52

Have either of the Millibands ever done a days (proper) work in there life? Thought not.

MavisEnderby · 03/12/2009 00:44

the only vaguely interesting thing about the Milibands I have heard was that one of them (not sure which) was on a radio talk show somewhere in Eastern Europe and a very old lady phoned in who turned out to be a long lost relative who they did not know existed.

OK,maybe it wasn't that interesting....

dittany · 03/12/2009 00:40

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dittany · 03/12/2009 00:16

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MinkyFucker · 03/12/2009 00:08

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TheFowlAndThePussycat · 03/12/2009 00:07

Plus, I'm almost more depressed at the thought of the brainless Clegg holding the balance of power than Cameron as pm. Not quite though. Sorry I have strayed off the point.

TheFowlAndThePussycat · 03/12/2009 00:01

Hmmmm but hung parliaments are oft-touted but rarely actually turn up.(wikipedia says last one feb '74, followed by oct 74 victory for labour)

I have decided to be gloomily resigned to labour defeat in the hope that it will provide the kick up the backside needed to ensure that Tory interlude is brief. Even this may be wishful thinking though. (heavy sigh, returns to half empty glass).

LeninGrad · 02/12/2009 23:54

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Deadworm · 02/12/2009 23:47

Ed and David would be just the right number of columns under in my spread sheet.

Original poster
policywonk · 02/12/2009 23:37

Is it so certain that Labour will be in opposition though? This week's theory is: hung parliament, LibDems holding balance of power, refuse to join Labour in a coalition unless they replace Brown.

Obviously there is a certain amount of wishful thinking in that (not least on my part) but there seem to have been some shifts in Labour's direction over the last couple of weeks, and the Tories need a 10 per cent lead in the polls just to get a working majority.

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Original poster
policywonk · 02/12/2009 23:34

I'm not adding another bloody column to this spreadsheet

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TheFowlAndThePussycat · 02/12/2009 23:34

(mostly here to wave at gizmo - it's rek21 here under new nom de mum)

In an attempt to engage with the subject matter ... Frankly either Milliband would be a lunatic to want to be the next labour leader, do the words 'wilderness years' mean nothing? How about 'william Hague'? Johnson is the only one with anything approaching enough gravitas to lead in the headless chicken olympics that will inevitably follow a defeat, he makes clegg & cameron look like the callow young whippersnappers they are. (Note to self, use word whippersnappers more often in conversation).

Of course, on looks alone, david all the way

Deadworm · 02/12/2009 23:23

Ralph

Original poster
policywonk · 02/12/2009 23:13

I'm putting GYF down as a 'don't know'

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BonjourIvressedeNoel · 02/12/2009 23:11

I'd have Ed, not David though.

GrumpyYoungFogey · 02/12/2009 22:58

Following "mainstream" politics is so depressing I lose track of who is who, but David is the one who looks like a 14 year old nerd and represents South Shields right? And Ed is his brother.

I believe neither has done a proper days work in their lives, but were born into the Harman/Benn/Mandelson/Gould class of socialist who get to rule over us by hereditary right. Their first jobs were as policy wonks before the inevitable parachuting into safe seats.

And we are then meant to have a straight-faced discussion over which we would rather have lord it over us?

Original poster
policywonk · 02/12/2009 22:52

That's interesting giz. (As bloody per.)

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gizmo · 02/12/2009 22:43

Easy, GYF, just line 'em up one behind the other!

GrumpyYoungFogey · 02/12/2009 22:36

Which one to shoot if you only have one bullet?

gizmo · 02/12/2009 22:22

scours brain with bucket of bleach to remove image of EM and Ian Marchant

Frankly the glacial speed of government action on smart metering has generally suited the utility industry just fine.

In fact, even in private, utilities are generally extraordinarily, er, tactful, about the government and the environmental agenda, PW. Partly I think this is that they see carbon action as a good market opportunity, potentially, and partly that they have lobbied rather skillfully to adjust the smart meter roll out to suit them.

There have been some points of friction for sure, but I'm just not sure that DECC is effective enough for people to develop real enmity.

Original poster
policywonk · 02/12/2009 22:02

Giz - following on from your exchange with OBM on the webchat thread (in effort not to hijack) - isn't it the case that EM has been keen to come down quite hard on the energy companies? (God that sounds rude). I'd read that he's made a few enemies within the energy industry because of his intention to act on things like pre-payment meters.

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LeninGrad · 02/12/2009 21:05

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