Ed Miliband rapped for his rudeness

Oh dear. It seems that the new Labour government is rapidly developing a reputation for rudeness. Whether it’s Bridget Phillipson’s charm offensive backfiring or Angela Rayner enraging Grenfell survivors, few in the cabinet appear to be winning friends across the spectrum. And now Mr S brings news of another instance involving one of Keir Starmer’s best known ministers.

Over at Energy Security, Ed Miliband is doing little to advance the cause of cross-party relations. So bad has the ex-Labour leader got at responding to letters by opposition colleagues that he has now been called out for his rudeness in public. In a debate on forthcoming Commons Business last week, Joy Morrissey, the Opposition Deputy Chief Whip, told Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House, that one:

Extremely welcome innovation would be the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero finding time to reply to numerous letters sent by Opposition Members; perhaps the Leader of the House could persuade him to do so, but perhaps she would have more luck with the Chancellor.