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Category: Labour leadership

Was Ed’s election “free and fair”?

Was Ed’s election “free and fair”?

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Does it create a problem of legitimacy? According to PoliticsHome a report by two academics at Bristol University into last year’s Labour leadership election says the contest could not be described as “free and fair democratic”. The trade unions, it says, created a ‘block vote’ to back Ed Miliband. The authors, Richard Jobson and Mark Wickham-Jones, say that members of Ed’s own campaign admitted that the result created a problem of legitimacy – something that was flagged here at the…

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Has Ed signed the death-warrant for his leadership?

Has Ed signed the death-warrant for his leadership?

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How ruthless will his MPs be? There is to be a Clause Four moment after all. Perhaps symbolically, it is not to be over a grand symbol of Labour’s policy but an arcane process for selecting the shadow cabinet. It doesn’t matter though. In taking on this fight, Miliband is placing his authority on the line and challenging his party and his MPs in just the same way. One can well understand his reasons for proposing the change. Not only…

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Miliband slumps to new leadership rating low

Miliband slumps to new leadership rating low

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Meanwhile Cleggie’s situation improves Details of the Sunday Times YouGov poll are just out with the latest leadership ratings for Cameron/Miliband and Clegg. Here the pollster asks every week in the same standardised format whether those in the sample think that the leaders are doing well/badly. The +/- figures in the chart above shows the current splits with the change since the start of the month. As can be seen Clegg has edged back from his ultra-lows and is moving…

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What’s the best “Ed Will go” bet?

What’s the best “Ed Will go” bet?

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Is it worth 11/4 that he’ll be out before the election? A lot of focus on Ed Miliband in the Sundays this morning with the Indy on Sunday saying that “friends of David Miliband” are saying that the brother who lost last September’s leadership election is “waiting for his brother Ed to fail” as Labour leader and is “poised” to make another bid for the job. The report goes on: “.Last night, a friend of David Miliband told The IoS…

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Who’ll be next after Ed?

Who’ll be next after Ed?

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Where’s the value in the next Labour leader stakes? Following HenryG’s interesting article yesterday tipping Priti Patel, I thought I’d return the favour and look at the contenders for Next Labour leader. One of the biggest variables in Next Leader markets is timing. With Labour, it should be easier and the default assumption should be that the election will be in Autumn 2015. It will only be before then if Miliband’s deposed (or becomes indisposed), or if there’s an early…

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How Balls dealt with similar claims last year

How Balls dealt with similar claims last year

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A look again at his grilling by Andrew Neil This is from the BBC1 “This Week” programme during the 2010 Labour leadership election. Interestingly the lines he used with Andrew Neil are very similar to his reactions today. His problem is that so much has been written about the period and the revelations just seem to underpin what is already known. It’s hard to see how this won’t impinge on his leadership hopes. Mike Smithson

If Ed Miliband did step down then who?

If Ed Miliband did step down then who?

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A run-down of possible contenders Ed Miliband’s latest PMQs performance will do nothing to stop the murmuring within the party against him and Ladbrokes have him at just 2/1 that he’ll go before the general election. But if he was to step aside voluntarily then who would take over. These are my comments on those priced at 25/1 or shorter in the betting. Possible Odds Comment David Miliband 5/1 He had his chance last autumn and his current absence from…

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Why didn’t David Miliband complain about this?

Why didn’t David Miliband complain about this?

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Should the votes involved have been disqualified? The other day I was having a conversation with a Labour figure who was furious about the manner of Ed Miliband’s election as Labour leader on September 25th last year. It will be recalled that David Miliband had clear margins amongst the party members and the party’s MPs/MEPs. The elder brother was also ahead in most of the affiliated organisations apart from in a small group of very large unions where voting papers…

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