Trump 'will not forget' Miliband criticism as appointment sparks anger
- Ed Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has caused the White House to be “deeply concerned.”
- Sources close to President Donald Trump warn he "will not forget" Miliband's past scathing criticisms, including calling him a "racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper."
- Miliband is viewed in Washington as an "unreasonable 'nut zero' extremist" due to his climate stance and perceived blocking of North Sea oil production.
Naturally Miliband will emit some ameliorative language to downplay his inability to govern his tongue, particularly in a role where this matters. It's a poor appointment though, a posturing extremist such as Ed Miliband should have been shown the door.
It's an indication that the Burnham regime is already showing significant cracks. He does not have an abundance of pragmatic and capable people free from damaging ideologies and seems to be unaware of it. Or he lacks the political courage to do anything about it. Cracks either way.
It's an indication that the Burnham regime is already showing significant cracks. He does not have an abundance of pragmatic and capable people free from damaging ideologies and seems to be unaware of it. Or he lacks the political courage to do anything about it. Cracks either way.
7 comments:
The second view I think; Miliband must stay and the only thing is where to put him. I do not know what hold he has on the Labour Party; I wouldn’t have him in charge of the office photocopier, but he has something. He is an astute political player (not an astute person, that’s different) who knows how to pull strings and to keep himself to the fore. Rather like Two Short Planks Rayner, Labour seem to have to have them. Any sensible private company wouldn’t employ them as office cleaners, but they will remain in their own talent-free world and unfortunately in ours.
He is less of a danger to Burnham as Foreign Sec than as a back bencher.
With such a lack of talent in the Labour Party we have a convicted woman in charge of ethics, and two guilty of housing fraud, one of whom is in charge of housing,
Good grief! What a shambles.
I think its a genius move by Burnham, to stick Ed the Eco-loon at the Foreign Office. (It could be a Freudian hint - Ed, I'm giving you the FO!). In fact I'm surprised Miliband agreed. Foreign Secretary is a nothing position nowadays. No one on the world stage listens to the UK, everyone knows we're a busted flush. We have nothing to back up all the fine words with. The only thing anyone at Westminster cares about foreign affairs is how to blame the Jews for anything and everything.
So Burnham sidelines a person who probably is a significant threat to his position, who was doing terrible damage in his previous position, and neutralises him for the foreseeable future. And even has the chance to be 'forced' to sack him if he annoys Trump or something (which is highly likely). Total win/win for Burnham IMO.
And I have the suspicion that Mad Ed's replacement at DESNZ won't be in place for too long. My guess is that Ed's even madder sidekick Miatta Fahnbulleh will either be a place holder, or out on her ear soon, because Burnham will be starting to give her orders in a way he couldn't to Ed. She may have all sorts of nutty NZ ideas, but I reckon AB knows what needs to be done on energy prices (he keeps talking about re-industrialisation and you can't do that with sky high energy prices), and will start to run the department from No 10. She'll either have to do as she's told (and being a nobody in the Labour Party will have no leverage to resist) or resign in a huff.
Chris - I agree, it looks like a lack of courage. Miliband is an astute political player so Burnham needs to smother him but Foreign Sec gives him too many opportunities to grab a headline or two. Miliband out of it altogether would be very courageous but this is the only point where he can be that courageous.
DAD - as a back bencher he could stir up trouble, but he'll do that anyway, but in more subtle ways. At least his ideological posturing is less significant if he's out of it.
Sobers - I don't see it like that, Foreign Sec gives Miliband too much. Giving him nothing would be more decisive, if as he claims, Burnham intends to focus on the cost of living. It is easy to demonstrate that Miliband has damaged the cost of living and dispense with his services on that basis alone. As an outsider, Burnham could do it but it has to be now, tomorrow he isn't an outsider.
I agree about Mad Ed's replacement at DESNZ, she seems to be destined for the exit if anyone is. She does highlight his lack of options though. It would be interesting to know what his calculations were, but we'll probably never know.
I can only hope that, on their first meeting, Trump offers Milliband a snack of bacon sandwiches.
Personally, Roads (or Pothole) Minister would enlighten Crazy Ed somewhat
"How do we make bitumen and tarmac to repair the roads or fill in potholes?"
" we use oil based products, Minister".
"Oh!"
Penseivat
Penseivat - good idea, Roads Minister could shove him into to a world where practical effort by practical people has to be understood before worthwhile decisions can be made.
" Foreign Sec gives Miliband too much. Giving him nothing would be more decisive, if as he claims, Burnham intends to focus on the cost of living. It is easy to demonstrate that Miliband has damaged the cost of living and dispense with his services on that basis alone. As an outsider, Burnham could do it but it has to be now, tomorrow he isn't an outsider."
Yes, but a back bench loose cannon Miliband equals a rallying point for anti-Burnham feeling (which will come). Having him in a nominally senior Cabinet role, constrained by collective responsibility for the government's actions, and also halfway around the world at any given point in time is far far safer for Burnham. The last thing he wants to do is create a martyr that the Left can rally around when they start cutting up about his (probably very slight) tacks towards sensible policies. Its the old 'I'd rather have him in the tent p*ssing out, than on outside p*ssing in' scenario. Burnham has a lot of strength right now, but its not that deeply rooted. He's just literally been parachuted into the role of PM, having been out of the HoC for nearly 10 years. While he can do a lot of things that perhaps Starmer couldn't, he can't jump in and start making powerful enemies on day one.
Don't forget for all Burnham's coronation, the Labour Party has not actually voted in a contest as to who they want as leader. I reckon in a straight fight Miliband would have beaten Burnham, had he stood. I'm guessing he considered the damage a real ding dong leadership contest could do would damage Labour's standing too much so held his fire. But he won't have given up the dream of being PM himself one day. And Burnham will know that.
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