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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be proud that Ed Milliband was one of the Saints of the expenses scandal ?

37 replies

kerstina · 10/10/2010 10:07

To be pleased that the Labour party have elected a man of integrity who is honest. He was named as one of the politicians claiming the lowest expenses. Unlike George Osbourne who tried to claim to over claim for his mortgage.

OP posts:
RibenaBerry · 10/10/2010 10:11

Bit underwhelming actually. Great that he was one who didn't get in trouble, but there was a lot of fault on both sides of the Commons (and all over the Lords). Neither party came out of that one looking good.

HumphreyCobbler · 10/10/2010 10:12

I think it is sad we have to feel pleased just because someone is honest - although I do take your point OP

InGodWeTrust · 10/10/2010 10:15

Just like when Tony Blair was elected because of his integrity and honesty?

AlpinePony · 10/10/2010 10:27

kerstina - did he claim "rent" for the house in which he lives with the mother of his (soon to be) two children?

Original poster
kerstina · 10/10/2010 10:40

I have just googled to research what you are on about AlpinePony I see you have been reading the Daily Mail ?

OP posts:
AlpinePony · 10/10/2010 10:42

Huh? It's been all over the news since he won the Labour leadership. Where do you get your news from?

Original poster
kerstina · 10/10/2010 10:52

I don't read newspapers but watch news a lot on the BBC and Channel 4. I knew about the birth certificate but not about renting from his partner.

OP posts:
lucky1979 · 10/10/2010 11:06

It's a bit depressing when Saint = Not actually on the fiddle.

Saint would have been paying everyone elses expenses as well and leaving in beatific poverty surely?

Nancy66 · 10/10/2010 11:13

He's still totally unelectable though

Original poster
kerstina · 10/10/2010 11:29

Go on Nancy66 explain your reasons. Cameron did not win a majority. Why does the press have to tell us who is electable and who is not we can make our own minds up.

OP posts:
Rollmops · 10/10/2010 11:54

Well, he does remind one of Bamby and doe-eyed woodland creatures seem just so harmless...
DC et al surely welcomed the news of EM becoming the leader of Labour, one couldn't wish for a 'better' opponent, no? Grin
My personal choice was Diane Abbot, pity she didn't win, would have kept Labour in the cellar for a happy decade at least Hmm

Doodleydoo · 10/10/2010 12:00

I had heard there was some controversy about tax and two houses? By not being married someting about capital gains?

Frankly though I think he must be a bit wet to not be on his sons birth certificate. Think they would have stood a better chance with the big brother.

(Actually have a labour party conspiracy theory, that people are pissed off with labour and so have put a person who is unlikely to win the next election in charge who they can get rid of and get the bigger guns out, and if they do win they can do a leadership challenge - bonkers I know but that was pre child benefit cuts in my mind Grin)

Nancy66 · 10/10/2010 12:09

Kerstina - too left wing, too in the pocket of the unions, too mistrusted by the middle classes - too old school labour and, to be frank, too 'foreign' looking.

those are the reasons i think he won't appeal to sections of the electorate BTW, before I'm accused of racism

Rollmops · 10/10/2010 12:22

I beg to differ, Nancy66, he does look very much like a homegrown furry woodland creature. Hmm
['tiz silly, he is a nice looking man - before the labour torches come out - however, anything left of Genghis Khan is a bit too left for moi]

Original poster
kerstina · 10/10/2010 12:56

As far as being too left and old Labour go thats the main reason I respect him. I was tempted to join the Green party if the Labour party had carried on the way they were going. It annoys me that a lot of people are not interested in politics and don't know much about it. They rely on the press to form their opinions. I try to chat to some of my mom friends about politics and they just are not interested. Great to find like minded people on here though!

OP posts:
thedollshouse · 10/10/2010 13:01

I don't feel proud but I do feel relieved.

On the one hand I would like this whole expenses scandal to be put to bed it is time to move on.

On the other hand it still makes me angry. I have never done anything dishonest and yet these people in power who want for nothing are prepared to fiddle the system to their advantage.

Rocklover · 10/10/2010 18:09

YABU to be "proud" of a politician. Unless you are related in some way. What a bizarre post.

ColdComfortFarm · 10/10/2010 18:26

He claimed a shade over £6K a year for the terraced house in his Doncaster consituency (quick google reveals this), which isn't much, and has to be a legitimate expense when the commons are in London. Not at all sure he is electable though.
And there can be no advantage, and considerable disadvantages to being unmarried and living in someone else's house. He has no rights at all over his own home and if his lovely partner gets fed up with him she can simply evict him. So if it's an evil plan, it's a crap one.

newwave · 10/10/2010 19:27

Nancy, as opposed to being, too right wing, too in the pockets of the wealthy and big business, too Thatcherite and to be frank looking like a bum with lips stapled on.

You show me a Tory and I will show you a basically selfish person.

KaraStarbuckThrace · 10/10/2010 19:50

I'm glad that Ed is in, but honesty is something to be expected not something to be praised in and of itself.

I think it is sad that we have so many dishonest politicians. But I guess that is how many of them get to be politicians.

RainbowRainbow · 10/10/2010 19:54

Rollmops - the Tory press used to call Tony Blair "Bambi" when he was leader of the opposition - and look how he turned out!

(Am not saying that EM will be anything like TB, just that it's early days)

HumphreyCobbler · 10/10/2010 20:51

I agree with Nancy66, frankly I think he is unelectable. They should have picked his brother. I don't think he has any charisma at all. This is not about his politics as much as his personality imo.

newwave, I think Ed is way to the left in the Labour party. There are degrees of left, and he is way out there compared to New Labour.

I bet the tory party are delighted he is now their opposition

newwave · 10/10/2010 20:58

Humphrey, "way to the left" are you sure, in what way.

Most people dont yet get what the Con-Dems are about to do, they are intent on almost destroying the welfare state and public services to cut the deficit and pay the debt. We will have reduced pensions, much higher fares, mass industrial action and God knows what other social upheavel.

The Con-Dems will be wiped out at the next election and I doubt the Coalition will survive for the next two let alone five years.

HumphreyCobbler · 10/10/2010 21:02

I was just trying to say that in the labour party people are more or less over to the left or to the middle ground. Ed is very left, David is more aligned to the centre left.

Generally people are seen as more electable if they are more centralised. Obviously this is not always true. But as Tony Blair moved the Labour party towards the centre so that he could get elected in 97, it is a real swing to the left to now elect Ed as leader.

I was not making a political point, just an observation.

HumphreyCobbler · 10/10/2010 21:04

We had better not discuss politics, we would NEVER agree Grin

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