Peter Hoskin

“Ed does not need to hold the broccoli”

A Thick of It style interlude from Ann Treneman’s interview (£) with Ed Miliband today:

“There is also a visit to something called a ‘communiversity’ where he is confronted with what, for a Miliband, is a scary sight: a bowl of fruit. ‘Us Milibands are funny about funny shaped fruit,’ he notes, plucking out an apple and avoiding the yellow peril that gave his brother the nickname Milibanana after he was pictured holding one and looking, well, a bit bananas. Later, on a trip to a community farm I feel on the brink of a major news scoop when someone tries to make Ed hold a broccoli. ‘Ed does not need to hold the broccoli,’ says his press handler as the green blob was extended. ‘I did a body swerve to avoid it,’ he says later, standing next to a lorry-load of spuds.”

More seriosuly, the full article gives you a decent sense of the strengths and weaknesses of MiliE.

Britain’s best politics newsletters

You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in