To think that David Milliband is at least 11.4x more credible than his moronic brother?

[ShellyBoobs]

Haven't seen him on TV for a while but he's on QT right now. I'd forgotten how professional and impressive he is as a politician.

Labour would be in a much, much better position with him at the helm and, dare I say it, perhaps a credible opposition party.

It's a shame for the country that he's on the sidelines while Ed&Ed flounder.

Ed is appalling, he reminds me of a duck for some reason.

I prefer Ed's policies. A bit more of a socialist IMO than his 'new labour' brother.

David didn't get in because he was a loyal Blairite.
Ed is exceptionally intelligent. He really is a very clever man, with some sound ideas. Unfortunately, and whether you like it or not, it's a fact of life, he doesn't look or sound like our idea of a politician, ergo, he'll get nowhere.

Blairite - Somebody who can win 3 elections in a row.
Socialist - er, when did one of those last win?

Exactly what my DBro and I were saying last night. Even my 6 day old DS agreed.

David and Shami for the Presidency!

I was told by a colleague that Ed Balls and his wife attended a family rights group event some time ago and that he arrived early and stayed til late spending time with people. David Milliband arrived late, stayed a short time and looked over people's shoulders for someone more interesting/important to talk to. Doesn't mean he would be less of a party leader of course, but perhaps says something about the man. I have also heard him described as cold and arrogant. I do agree that Ed Balls' persona is not very attractive, but he knows this as he commissioned a survey on why!

No, I don't think David is any more credible than Ed - absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Have met Ed Balls and found him really generous,pleasant and personable, quite in contrast to what I expected.

David didn't get in because he was a loyal Blairite.

Exactly. And do people really want some more Blairiness in their lives? Did the last dollop of it go so well?

David is too polished and scripted and while he talked some sense, last night, I felt like he was trying to sell something than talk about what he actually believes in.

Ed doesn't come across as a particularly charismatic leader, but he's very good at facilitating much needed change and redirection in the party. The Tories most definitely weren't voted in at the last election. Labour was voted out because it had lost people's trust quite spectacularly. It needs that change.

David is too polished and scripted and while he talked some sense, last night, I felt like he was trying to sell something than talk about what he actually believes in.

YY totally agree. I've had my fill of Bliar and his ilk, no way would I vote for this mini-me wannabe.

I quite like Ed Milliband.

I like the fact his parents were self-made immigrants; that means he should be hopefully more in touch with real people than the current government.
Hopefully...

I can't really remember much about his brother, David, sorry.

Shami? Chakrabarti??

Good lord I hope not. I nearly won the Olympic High Jump medal for the jump of rage I did from armchair to standing when she came on in the opening ceremony with the Olympic flag. Self-satisfied self-promoter. Barely ever agree with a word she says.

I have worked with Ed. He is great. Not sure he's a leader but he is very, very smart and, unusually, very personable.

FWIW, re the gold sale, how much did you go out and buy on that day?

I like Ed. I voted for Ed (am in the Labour party). I still like him, but he's a bit of a rubbish leader.

Should have voted David. Sorry David.

I like Ed and voted for him, and I don't regret my choice. He's had the humility to say that Labour did a lot to alienate voters, and that many policies needed to change. As ouryve said, Labour lost the last election, the Tories didn't win it. David has more polish, but doesn't seem to understand that you can't keep pushing a Blairite agenda. I hope that the election of a "runny nosed Rubik's cube fiddling dweeb" as he's be described does lead to a more thoughtful approach, and substance over style. As Ed, love him, isn't about style!

Regardless, I always thought that whoever was elected this time would just be a caretaker leader.

I didn't vote for either of them

David does seem more eloquent.
But, to me, they both seem so toryish.

I dislike Ed purely for is worthy, pausey way of talking and his 'oh, isn't this world wicked and gloomy and how I wish I could do something to make it better and brighter and nobler.'

Whatever else Ed is,he certainly is not "moronic".

I hold no brief for Cameron - I did, as I didn't see how he could fuck things up so badly* - but there's no way (surely) that the Labour Party will ever be elected with Ed Balls on the front bench?

*e.g. Mitchell - Cameron should have sacked him in a heartbeat.