Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Roy vs David

Labour's former deputy leader strikes back against Labour's former foreign secretary.

By Mehdi Hasan Published 04 February 2012 12:07

In all the hype and hyperbole surrounding David Miliband's latest "attack" on Ed Miliband, it is important to remember that the former foreign secretary's headline-grabbing essay in this week's New Statesman was meant, formally at least, to be a response to a long article on social democracy written by Roy Hattersley and academic Kevin Hickson and published in Political Quarterly late last year.

For example, Miliband writes:

Roy has been pretty consistent in his views over 40 years, even if the framing labels in the party (right, left, new, old, radical, conservative) have swivelled around him. His commentary on politics is born not of self-promotion but out of belief. But that doesn't mean he is right.

In today's Guardian, however, Hattersley responds to Miliband's critique - and he doesn't pull any punches:

Understandably, David bridles at criticism of the governments in which he served. We have no doubt that they did much of which the Labour party can be proud. We said so when we campaigned for its re-election. David makes the tired old jibe about the luxury of "principle without power". But we believe that future office will elude us until we establish a distinctive radical reputation. That requires a leader who has the courage and character to acknowledge the fundamental flaws in New Labour thinking. It is one of the reasons why we voted for Ed Miliband 18 months ago.

You can read Hattersley's full piece here.

Meanwhile, in the Telegraph today, Matthew Norman, in his own inimitable style, lets rip at the elder Miliband:

Little Ed may have lethal presentational problems, but he also has guts. When he wanted the leadership, he rang the doorbell and charged into the house, even though it meant trampling over his poor old mum's heart. David, no lavishly gifted communicator himself, is a castrato. He is the countertenor in the Labour choir, singing a self-pitying requiem to the death of personal ambition at a pitch to shatter glass.

Ouch.

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: David Miliband

More from Mehdi Hasan

View the discussion thread.

12 comments

Sat, 2012-02-04 19:45 — Anon (not verified)

Hi Dominic Lynch Of Construction not sure which "very rude" word you meant, c*nt, pr*ck or tw*t? It's an important distinction, one that pertains to the borthers.

Sat, 2012-02-04 22:26 — Keir H

Miliband D had several opportunities to run for Leader – but failed to muster enough support. So what has changed since New Labour perhaps a “Crisis of Capitalism” – created by lax financial regulation?

John Major once said “either put up or shut up” fortunately David didn’t have the nerve then and certainly doesn’t now.

Take some action and sign the email petition
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

calling on the Government to drop the Health and Social Care Bill – it needs 100,000 signatures and maybe it will force another debate in the House of Commons...

Sun, 2012-02-05 00:21 — Dickie1

@Spud

'Couldn't he even manage a "KERSPLATT!!a "KABOOM" or a "BLAMMO"?'

Hahah...couldn't be bothered to read them all though.

Do we have to put up with the Miliband family feud forever. It is a worse relationship (as portrayed in the media) than the Blair/Brown one, with only the dubious advantage of there being no real hostility between them, personally. It is almost as if the entire Left has been reduced to an adaptation of Shaw's Pygmalion: "I bet I could make this man into a Labour leader...' etc. And why is David not hated for sniping at his brother when the Blairites wail about Ed 'stabbing his brother in the back' or, as we call it 'winning a leadership election'.

Keir H "maybe it will force another debate in the House of Commons..."

Why bother the Tories (and GlibDems) seem intent on blocking even the Lords having a say. They will shit on us forever so for god's sake anyone who voted for them stop it now! They have even made such a mess of the health service that going back is impossible (quote from: Any Questions, today), and that was part of their plan. The nasty party, end of story.

Sun, 2012-02-05 10:32 — Tesco Shelf Stacker (not verified)

"Do we have to put up with the Miliband family feud forever."

It's getting to be more like a soap opera - reminds me of the Ewing dynasty in the series 'Dallas' - the bickering and rivalry between the two brothers - Ed and David Miliband (Bobby and JR Ewing). Don't know what that makes Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper? Cliff Barnes and Sue Ellen I guess?

Cue the theme tune ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffo2Oqt8bIM

Mon, 2012-02-06 12:38 — Nathaniel Myers (not verified)

Roy versus David

David wins

Flawless victory

Mon, 2012-02-06 13:13 — Lucidus (not verified)

It's not that easy to judge Miliband Major's article without being able to read the Political Quarterly article that it's a response to.

It's like listening to one end of a phone conversation.

Sun, 2012-02-05 15:14 — Dominic Lynch O...

@ Anon, hello there,

Watch Little Ed on TV and just think, the rude word will come to you! You don't even have to close your eyes, amazing! The blokes down the old racing ferret pub say 'He got a face you would like to slap!'For PC- Not that they would!

For little Ed's Brother, there is a few rude words from him!

Sat, 2012-02-04 14:00 — LD Lawrence (not verified)

Why quote the Norman article? All it seems to be is an ad hominem attack of D Miliband, nothing more.

Sat, 2012-02-04 14:10 — Dominic Lynch O...

A little tip for Little Ed's, the problem is the British Public look at his face and think to themselves, he is ...a very rude word!

Trust me, from experience, this is the response from all kinds of people!

There is the 'white elephant' in the room little Ed!!

Sat, 2012-02-04 15:35 — John P Reid (not verified)

New labour led themselves to there second ever worse defeat in 2010, but old labour led themelves to there worse ever defeat in 1983

Sat, 2012-02-04 16:05 — Spud Middleton (not verified)

I'd read all three in full. I nipped on here and have been 'given access' to excerpts from all three...and some framing commentary which sort of tells me they don't exactly see eye-to-eye...no shit!.. Is he paid for this; cutting and pasting from other people's articles and adding an 'ouch'? Couldn't he even manage a "KERSPLATT!!a "KABOOM" or a "BLAMMO"?

Seriously, what the fuck is this...some sorta "What the papers say" for middle-class centrist political non-entities and has beens?

Ironically enough, they're arguing about the direction of a party whose 'soul' or grass-roots sensitivities were always beyond the ken of the two of them in the first place...under the watchful eye of an identity-opportunist who's cynically exploited his cultural-religious affiliations to a position which should have the secular, working-class base of the party choking on their beer...except the secular, universalist working-class base is no more than a fiction of my wishful thinking. You wanna know what's wrong with the Labour Party? It died 20 years ago...fuck knows what this is all about...some kinda zombified remnant; only its bourgeois sensibilities obviously put the block on eating flesh and nihilist rampaging; relacing it with eating ciabatta, health and safety and respect for personal space.

Sun, 2012-02-05 20:09 — inverness211

“In all the hype and hyperbole surrounding David Miliband's latest "attack" on Ed Miliband, it is important to remember that the former foreign secretary's headline-grabbing essay in this week's New Statesman was meant, formally at least, to be a response to a long article on social democracy written by Roy Hattersley and academic Kevin Hickson and published in Political Quarterly late last year.”

I promised never to write again about David Milliband’s hurt and anger towards his brother when he was not crowned King David. However, after reading all the articles either responding or affirming his positions, I HAVE TRULY CONCLUDED THAT DAVID MILLIBAND IS A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE WITHIN OUT PARTY AND SHOULD BE SET FREE. David has been on this destructive path ever since losing the crown and has not done one thing to advance his constituents. The Citizens of South Shield would benefit from a representative from their constituents. When Matthew Norman called D. Milliband “the sniping and self-pity of a truly feeble man”, he knocked it out of the ballpark. I would like to add a few more adjectives, but will say no more other than, I will NEVER support the Labour party if David Milliband were ever to be anointed leader. I will withdraw all of my contributions (which are substantial) and my vote. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH