The Labour leadership hustings are over, tonight’s one on Question Time was the
last one. As has been the case at so many previous hustings, Ed Balls was the most intellectually forceful of the contenders. Whatever you think of his arguments on the economy (and I disagree with
them), he puts them across with a clarity and directness that none of the other candidates can match. It was revealing how when Ed Balls took issue with Andy Burnham’s accurate statement that
there would have been ‘significant job loses’ under Labour, the others all backed away.
In the contest between the two front runners, David Miliband was the more statesman-like refusing to get drawn into supporting strikes come what may and talking thoughtfully about foreign affairs while Ed Miliband seemed to connect with the audience better. But perhaps most telling was how Ed looked full of beans while David appeared tired.
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