I knew that David Miliband had lost the moment I saw him walk in the room, smiling like
Michael Portillo on election night 1997. And when I saw Ed Balls look of pure murder: his enemy had won. Time to destroy.
We saw a tension in this result: the MPs and members leaned towards David, who had a tough message on the deficit, who defended the Iraq war, who basically had an agenda for government. Whereas Ed Miliband’s agenda is for opposition: he’ll be marching alongside the unions the day before Osborne’s spending review.
As I say in the News of the World tomorrow, Ed will ooze left wing morals and righteous anger and that will work well in opposition. But as Michael Foot found in 1983, it means you strike the country as being not quite serious about government.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in