Miliband: I am not standing

Mike Ion Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 06:58:46 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Miliband has made it clear today that he is NOT going to stand for the leadership. Were some Labour bloggers trying to do the Tories' work for them? Their apparent obsession with attempting to get David Miliband to stand as the ABB (Anybody But Brown) candidate - backed by some disaffected, disengaged and disillusioned Blairites - was folly. Why? Because therein lies defeat, political oblivion and a split party.

Gordon Brown is going to succeed Blair - we know this and the Tories know this. The consequence of this political reality (as Will Hutton points out in today's Guardian) is that Brown has become the object of a massive vilification campaign by the Tories and the right-wing press.






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Miliband: I am not standing | 18 comments (18 topical)

Re: Miliband must not stand (#1)

by Mikael on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 08:56:44 AM GMT

This will get many an element of the right to go bananas (if they haven't already, that is -nudge, nudge Glass)! Boy Miliband would get trashed by McDonnell if he did!

Good ol'Ralph though!


Re: Miliband must not stand (#5)

by JR on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 04:50:36 PM GMT

McDonnell wouldn't stand a chance against Miliband and you know it!


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Re: Miliband must not stand (#7)

by e10rifles on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 05:19:13 PM GMT

You think there's a huge groundswell of support among members and trade unionists for more Blairite policies presented with Miliband's charisma?


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Re: Miliband must not stand (#8)

by JR on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 05:33:35 PM GMT

Among the members, yes of course. You can't seriously suggest that if McDonnell was in a contest with Miliband, McDonnell would win? That's sheer lunacy.


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Re: Miliband must not stand (#10)

by doctordunc on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 06:23:29 PM GMT

Well I'm glad you've cleared that up, JR.  Extraordinary logic!

'Tis!
'Tisn't!


[ Parent ]

Re: Miliband must not stand (#12)

by e10rifles on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 11:06:09 PM GMT

It's a shame that he isn't standing as I'd put money on McDonnell beating Miliband in the CLPs section of the electoral college.


[ Parent ]

Re: Miliband must not stand (#2)

by Glass House on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 10:33:46 AM GMT

I'll say what I said on the other thread:

Can you name the policy differences between David Davis and David Cameron?

Can you name the policy differences between Ming Campbell and Chris Huhne?

No, they were both about something other than policy - but they managed not to be about, as you put it, "two candidates ripping each other alleged personality flaws apart"

Can I make clear that I don't hate Gordon Brown - I wouldn't want to see people slagging him off publically.

I just think that the party should be able to choose whether they want a figure who is seen as experienced, with achievements under his belt, but who also seems to be less popular with the public vs. someone fresh, but still substantial, who could draw a line under the last ten years and start with a blank sheet of paper.

Why is offering that choice such a 'mad' 'doing-the-Tories-work-for-them' thing to want?


Re: Miliband must not stand (#3)

by Mikael on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 11:29:28 AM GMT

read my, reply on the other thread... you'll love it!


[ Parent ]

Miliband: I am not standing ... YET! (#4)

by Mark Wadsworth on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 04:18:38 PM GMT

c'mon Glasshouse, where there's life there's hope.


Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#6)

by JR on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 04:53:14 PM GMT

It's all over. Brown will be unopposed and he will be leader. And so begins the agonising decline into opposition.


Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#9)

by Loz on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 05:52:00 PM GMT

My support for Brown has been really up or down.

A few years back I destested him, but over the past couple of years I have to an extent warmed to the politics of the man.

I think this could be a very interesting fight between left and right of the party, providing Brown doesn't move over to the left.

As for Miliband, I like him, I really hope he doesn't come to regret this.

Brown needs to hit the ground running. If he doesn't, we're doomed to defeat.

I've never seen such a light weight as Cameron, he's quite simply awful. He's all PR and spin, all the things the Tories that are supporting him hate in Blair. That's pretty ironic and symbolicy of the Tories.


Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#11)

by jkitleft on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 06:51:13 PM GMT

Will people stop saying that they don't  like the infighting of the 80's, but then encourage it by shouting down other factions of the party, and increasing infighting. Party infighting will take us into opposition, not Gordon Brown


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Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#13)

by jonesythered on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 11:53:23 PM GMT

Do you know what David Miliband's first break in politics was?

Photocopying for John McDonnell.

No, that isn't a joke!


Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#14)

by grimupnorth on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 11:04:12 AM GMT

has to be  some  mileage  in that one!


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Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#15)

by jkitleft on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 11:15:04 AM GMT

that is possibly, the greatest thing i've heard all day. Well if all else fails, he could be McD's campaign manager!


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Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#16)

by grimupnorth on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 04:00:32 PM GMT

I think you will find John already has a campaign manager......who is doing a  great job!


Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#17)

by jkitleft on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 06:58:45 PM GMT

who is the manager then? it was implied as a joke btw


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Re: Miliband: I am not standing (#18)

by jonesythered on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 08:43:01 PM GMT

It's Mike Wood, MP for Batley and Spen


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Miliband: I am not standing | 18 comments (18 topical)