Ed Miliband’s hand of friendship has to be one of the shakiest body parts in British politics. Sometimes it’s extended to the Lib Dems,
sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s extended to Nick Clegg, sometimes it’s not. Sure, the Labour leader does appear to have finally settled on a position: that he will only shake the hands of a
Cleggless Liberal party. But that has come after constant wavering on his part, and could well be subject to change.
I mention this now because of a claim in Rachel Sylvester’s column (£) today. I’m not sure whether it has been made before — but it neatly encapsulates how Miliband has lurched one way and then t’other, and deserves pasting into the scrapbook. Writing of MiliE’s decision not to tread the boards with Clegg over voting reform, Sylvester writes:
“Not only did this look petty and small-minded, it also involved the Labour leader breaking his word: Mr Miliband had, I gather, personally told the Liberal Democrat leader at a private meeting a few weeks earlier that he would be happy to stand alongside him to promote the cause of voting reform.”
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