Well done Ed Miliband for speaking out about the Daily Mail's article on his father

[claig]

The Daily Mail used a low tactic of accusing Ed miliband's father of hating Britain.

I think it was a nasty thing to do. Just because someone is a Marxist and may criticise some aspects of the country or its instiutions does not mean that they hate Britain.

[claig]

What next? If someone wants to nationalise the means of production, is anti-monarchy and doesn't bow to the Bulllingdon Club, will the Mail say that they hate the country?

[claig]

'I love the Maguire and Andrew Pierce double act on Sky News.'#

Yes, that is fantastic TV. I also like the Observer's Elizabeth Day as well as, of course, the Mail's Kelvin Mackenzie, but he is not on so much anymore unfortunately.

[PetiteRaleuse]

Fixing energy prices would go completely against the Tory philosophy and their donors

I respect the Mail for how they have coped in the 'digital age' but I loathe what they write and the hypocrisy wrt the values they claim to uphold.

[BasilBabyEater]

Even if his father did hate Britain (unlikely since he served in the Royal Navy), can someone explain to me why Ed Milliband would be responsible for that?

When did children become responsible for their parents' political views?

[claig]

Basil, I think it is also a subtle smear of Ed, implying that he learned his socialist views from his father and in some way trying to equate partially with his father, whose legacy the Mail has gone over the top in today describing as "evil".

They are trying to divide and rule and turn the public against this Marxist bogeyman that they are trying to build up.

[claig]

But it seems desperate because it doesn't look like Labour has much chance of getting in at the election, unless the Mail knows more and sees Ed as a serious threat.

[claig]

Maybe the UKIP split of the Tory vote really is a threat to the Tories and might let Labour in and maybe that is why they want to paint Ed as a 1970s socialist in the public's eyes.

[limitedperiodonly]

I'm sure Ed Miliband is angry and smart. But Labour's Director of Communications, Bob Roberts, is no slouch either. He presents the image that he's a nice guy. And mostly he is.

But I think the constant digging at the word 'evil' is a great idea and possibly his.

Stupid overkill from the Mail.

Maybe they should finally pension the pernicious author Geoffrey Levy off. I don't expect they will.

They can be very loyal to people.

Cunts, granted. But they can show a twisted loyalty.

[Catmint]

I agree, I think Ed Miliband has shown great dignity and courage to call the Mail to account for their article. It is a sign of the Mail's moral degradation and self interested world view that they have refused to apologise for their vile actions.

Awful. I didn't think I could dislike the Mail more...I have found I can. And I have renewed respect for Ed Miliband.

[VerySmallSqueak]

Ed Miliband is to be admired for how he has dealt with this.

[Lilithmoon]

Incredible own goal from the Daily Mail. They really are a nasty mess.

[PetiteRaleuse]

claig it isn't a subtle smear of Ed Miliband it is blatant. They are running scared. They used to be like this about Kinnock, but I think Ed has more chance of getting in than Kinnock ever did, as the voters are very very fed up of being treated like rubbish by the boys at the top.

Tbf the paper doesn't like the Tories either; naturally they would be UKIP but with the Mail's murky fascist supporting past and UKIP's dirty little racist secrets coming out by the bucketload I don't think they dare switch allegiance openly. They might before the next election.

[claig]

Has anyone noticed that Cameron seems much more stressed, speaking quickly and angrily, in interviews etc?

Ed is a brilliant performer, calm, jokey and self-deprecating even under pressure and personal attacks. If it goes on like this, then come the TV debates, I expect Ed to run rings around an increasingly tense, angry, shirty, stressed Cameron. And the big difference this time is that Ed is in my opinion much more appealing than Gordon Brown.

[claig]

PetiteRaleuse, I think you are right, it is a blatant smear. But I don't think the paper is a UKIP supporter, it still supports the Tories, possibly due to the big money etc that still backs the Tories.

Increasingly, the Mail's readers are turning to UKIP as can be seen in their comments section, but the Mail in my opinion still tries to steer them towards the Tories, but I think it is a losing battle because as you say the peope are so fed up of being treated like rubbish that they are increasingly turning to UKIP in protest. The mail won't be able to turn the tide for the Tories, so maybe that is why they are using ridiculous tactics against Ed now.

[BasilBabyEater]

I found that bloke on PM really revolting.

He was absolutely adamant that the only reason Milliband is complaining is because he's opportunistic and it's something for him to get on his high horse about.

I wonder if these people realise how they come across. He sounded as if he either never had a father, or had an extremely dysfunctional relationship with his. Nothing wrong with that (I'm no stranger to dysfunctional parental relationships) but he came across as not being aware that people who grow up in functional, loving families might actually be outraged and hurt by an attack on their dead father. Like he couldn't believe that there might be some real feeling behind Milliband's fightback, because he's not on nodding terms with proper feelings.

Cameron on the other hand was quite moving and human on the subject on Today. I can't stand the bloke but I was quite touched by what he said.

[PatioDweller]

As I said on the other thread, I think Ed Milliband has handled this beautifully. He could have given a response full of political rhetoric but by simply saying, 'it's a lie' he simply nailed it. I'm not a lover of his politics but he definitely came out better over this. I also think DC would do himself a huge favour by coming out more strongly against this. If what you read is to be believed, ie he has smart people analysing forums such as this to get a grasp on popular opinion then he'll know voters of all persuasions are disgusted by this and he'll come out against it.

[MissM]

Agree BasilBabyEater - that bloke was clutching at straws. There's nothing in the way that EM has handled this that suggests he is looking for political gain. He sounded genuinely choked in his interview about it and completely human, untouched by spin doctors.

[claig]

Ed has handled this brilliantly because he has come out alone, on his own, versus the Daily Mail. It is classic David and Goliath and the people have sympathy with David.

Usually, labour get cabinet ministers etc to say this is outrageous, but on this occasion, Ed has stepped into the lion's den against the Mail on his own, and that is why he will win against the bully.

[MiniTheMinx]

ah that's nice claig I am going to have to read the Mail now aren't I. Kevin McGuire is fab, he talks to the people in lingo they can fathom.

[PatioDweller]

Disappointed by David Cameron's response. I think he sounded bumbly and insincere. Are we really to believe he hadn't read any of it and didn't really know what the article said?

Show some balls, Mr Cameron! Come out and condemn it. It won't lose you any votes and may well win you some.

[claig]

Mini, I alwatys love your posts and I learn things about politics, the economy and Marxism from them and agree with quite a lot of them too. This Daily Mail attack is a nasty attack on politics, on socialists, on immigrants, on refugees and on Marxists and it is beneath free and civilised political debate, which the Mail should be upholding.

Yes, Maguire is brilliant. If he was in the Labour shadow cabinet instead of some of the others in there, Labour's votes would go up undoubtedly.

[MissM]

Cameron hasn't ever been short of comments on about articles he hasn't read in the past.

'This Daily Mail attack is a nasty attack on politics, on socialists, on immigrants, on refugees and on Marxists and it is beneath free and civilised political debate, which the Mail should be upholding.'

Spot on.

[PatioDweller]

I'm also not sure how they have that audacity considering their pro-fascist stance during the 30s as compared to Ralph Milliband's anti-fascist stance as evidenced by both his writings and his membership of the British armed forces during the war.

[claig]

MissM, your post about your grandfather was spot on. This Daily Mail insult is not just an insult to Ed and his dead father, but to many other people in this country too, and I am flabbergasted that they haven't had the good grace to apologise for it, but have intensified it even further.

[MiniTheMinx]

claig, its nice to see you around again. I have just had a quick read of the mail, I am skipping round the kitchen because this is the bestest thing that could possibly happen.