What jobs could the Miliband brothers give one another?

A tricky balancing act

By James Macintyre Published 23 September 2010 12:49

There are reports today that should Ed Miliband win the Labour leadership on Saturday he would make his elder brother David shadow chancellor. There is obvious logic to this -- David would need a very senior post indeed -- but somehow it doesn't feel quite right. Some would argue it would look dynastic, though that should be dismissed on the grounds that -- regardless of their blood relationship -- the Miliband brothers were the two front-runners in this contest. Instead, the position may not make the most of David Miliband's strengths, and he may of course not want it.

Instead, the only role I can think of that David may want to do under Ed, if any, may be his current one: shadow foreign secretary.

Meanwhile, David will be thinking about what to do with Ed. Shadow chancellor may suit Ed a little better, and some have suggested shadow home secretary, though that would certainly not play to Ed's strengths. Instead, one role could be shadow deputy prime minister with responsibility for constitutional affairs.

It is going to be a tricky week for the new leader. But soon the speculation will soon be pointless. I'll be blogging from the result in Manchester on Saturday. For my piece on the shadow cabinet see the new issue of the magazine.

You can follow me on Twitter here.

Tags: Ed Miliband David Miliband

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13 comments

Thu, 2010-09-23 14:04 — swatantra nandanwar

One could be Leader the other, DL Shadow DPM and Party Chair combined. Or not.

Thu, 2010-09-23 14:13 — shufflebox (not verified)

Not going to happen but would be interesting if Ed won if he asked David to lead the English Labour Party in some way or other. Not to appease any bigots or owt, but just to send a clear signal that under Ed Labour would know how to share power etc. Can't be bothered to go into the fors and againsts whys and wherefores here but something along those lines could be interesting.

Fri, 2010-09-24 10:05 — swatantra nandanwar

May have to make the best of what happens. Could be looking at yet another Leadership contest in a year or twos time. But things can only get better.

Thu, 2010-09-23 14:51 — m . gebresh (not verified)

I think this election race will be concluded with David milband, a person who seems in depth politician, and bright for the country.

Thu, 2010-09-23 19:58 — Luddite (not verified)

The last thing Labour needs are two London based intellectuals. Labour's stuffed.

Sat, 2010-09-25 10:28 — swatantra nandanwar

The Tories turned to young energetic and inspiring Hague (Welsh Sec), after their defeat in '97, thinking he's the future and he'd get their Party back on their feet again; then IDS, then Howard, then ...
Rather like these days jobs are not for life, neither is the Leadership.

Sat, 2010-09-25 10:37 — Dave C (not verified)

@swatantra nandanwa

Hague's first problem was that, in the 2001 General Election, he hardly made a dent in Labour's majority (the Tories gained one seat). His second problem was that he then felt the need to resign instead of persevering.

The new Labour leader won't have anything like the same problem. By the time Osborne has finished ruining the economy, Labour will make huge gains, enough to put us into government with a workable majority.

Sat, 2010-09-25 10:56 — swatantra nandanwar

The Tories and Lib Dems are in it for the long term, a full 5 years. I can't see how Labour can force a GE unless the people revolt en masse and take to the streets and barricades. The Coalitions local councillors may well take the brunt of the public anger, but the Govt will still be there in 3 years time, and the upturn will start about then.
Labour's task is more difficult than people imagine. Thats why Labours new team has to be as good as it takes.

Sat, 2010-09-25 11:33 — Nick (not verified)

A week is a long time in Politics Swatandra! It's not five years anyway, they've been in nearly half a year already. This coalition has a lot of hurdles to get over. The damage will have been felt much more by next May when the Liberals wake up and realise they are no more and no one cares to support them on electoral reform. People will grow sick of being unemployed, seeing closed shops everywhere in the high street, the private sector won't take off and act as this Nation's saviour; as a consequence there will be stunted growth.

This is a very unstable coalition, not least because it has not got the Country behind it (no matter how much the media may say otherwise). Nor as it got an effective opposition to contend with, David Miliband will give them a good run for their money and could persuade the electorate that deficit reduction must be done at a slower pace. I agree it may take a massive revolt from the people, but I would not rule that out at all. It will turn when the media does, that is what brings down any government. I'm not resigned to this lot being in for the long term at all, although we have to watch Cameron because he is getting his new found friends to do all the dirty work, that could go in his favour or it could backfire on him.

Sat, 2010-09-25 11:39 — Nick9

To return to post, David will be leader, he'll probably put his brother in Foreign affairs as he is diplomat.

Sat, 2010-09-25 11:41 — Nick (not verified)

To return to post, David will be leader, he'll probably put his brother in Foreign affairs as he is a diplomat.

Sat, 2010-09-25 11:43 — Dave C (not verified)

@swatantra nandanwar

"... the government is expecting between 500,000 and 600,000 jobs to go in the public sector and between 600,000 and 700,000 to disappear in the private sector by 2015."

"A slide from the final version of a presentation for last week's budget, seen by the Guardian, says: "100-120,000 public sector jobs and 120-140,000 private sector jobs assumed to be lost per annum for five years through cuts."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/29/budget-job-losses-unemployment-...

"The Treasury is assuming that growth in the private sector will create 2.5m jobs in the next five years to compensate for the spending squeeze"

However, as David Blanchflower points out, "First, job growth of this kind is unprecedented in the private sector. According to the Office for National Statistics, between the first quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 2008, when the latest recession began, the private sector created 1.6 million jobs, at a time when the economy was booming."

http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2010/07/private-sector-public-jobs

So the supposed growth in private sector jobs is highly speculative. Against this background, it's going to be very difficult for the Lib-Dem/Tory coalition to get re-elected.

Sat, 2010-09-25 12:17 — Nick (not verified)

Well quoted Dave C! This coalition's biggest friend is complacency and a resignation amongst the electorate to accept all it throws at us. As a Labour party we must voice our discontent until the message is home. Contrary to what is said of how we are a lazy Nation, the majority of people want to work. This lot have taken no account of how making people unemployed has a knock on effect, even less retail spending, higher welfare bills and more need for social housing will be the result. As Dave C has just helpfully pointed out, the sums don't add up.

Why is it that Cable is voicing this big get tough on the banks, those should be the words of Osborne, there is much more discord in this coalition than they make out. Ed Balls would take the banks on properly as chancellor I think, he'd do it properly though with more than words.