Ed Miliband in a pickle

The last few weeks have been a bit difficult for the younger Miliband, but mainly of his own making!

Firstly the spat with the unions caused by Falkirk selection process promised Miliband his 'Clause 4' moment when he made his speech saying that things had to change. If Miliband can achieve significant change to Labour's relationship with the unions it would certainly go down as a brilliant coup, alongside Kinnock's 1985 conference ousting of militant.

Since the announcement, though, there appears to have been some backtracking. The members of Falkirk Labour party who were suspended have been reinstated, and the report into the affair has been kept under lock and key. The threats of reduced funding from GMB seems to have shaken the resolve. His speech to the TUC was underwhelming.

If the link was truly reformed, the funding would be cut from the unions as union members were opted in - just like Ed Miliband has suggested. Also, though, the block vote at conference would have to be ditched and the unions would lose their vote in the leadership elections. For this to happen though, these changes would have to be passed by a vote and I think this is unlikely. Each MP voting would be wondering about the funds to their local party and their election warchest. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas. It's for this reason that I think the backtracking will continue. In such circumstances, Ed Miliband will be seen as weak.


Secondly, I was dismayed by Ed Miliband's choice on the Syria vote. In meetings with the PM he was shown intelligence and given access to military opinions. He asked for reassurances from the PM, and was given them. After leaving the meetings he asked for further reassurances and was given them too, he asked for a second vote and was given it. He was given all he wanted and yet when it came to the crunch he still voted against. It was cowardly and he put party unity above principle and I could not be more ashamed of a leader of one of our major parties.

Afterwards it looked like a bit of a victory for Ed Miliband, but I think in retrospect this will be when he seen at his weakest. Not able to muster his troops only able to follow them. Duplicitous and not to be trusted is about the politest thing I could say. I would have hoped for better.


It is against this background that the next few months will be seen. He has to make a stirring speech at the conference, but without any policies and against a recovering economy will he be able to show much vision? The polls have tightened and the Tories are looking more confident and united than they have for some time. It's looking bad, can Ed turn it around?

Squiffy.