Labour Leadership Election

With voting imminent it still looks to be a straight fight between the Milibands. My guess is Burnham and Balls will urge supporters to go for David over Ed. No matter what Diane Abbott says I think most of her supporters will go for Ed Milband over David.

I have thought Ed would win from the start but I am less sure now. If everyone voting was absolutely clear that David Milband was the Blairite candidate I think his chances would be reduced. But many voting are less than clear what they are voting for. I have heard a Labour party member lay into 'New Labour' about as harshly as one could and then said he would vote for Burnham because he heard him use the word 'socialism'. If Ed Miliband is to win I think the efforts of the big unions who are supporting him will be crucial. If they get the message over that if you want to move the party on whether one sees themselves as Right or Left then a vote for the younger Miliband makes sense. Hopefully, this will nullify the efforts of Cruddas, the Daily Mirror, the high priests of new Labour and the money David Miliband has behind him.

I don't think David Miliband would be a disaster. I think he could well be a decent leader, but my fear is he would be too keen to privatise the public services and carry on some of the reforms that Labour should not have introduced in government such as Academies.