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Ed Miliband jokes that Jeremy Corbyn is an even worse Labour leader than him | Ed Miliband jokes that Jeremy Corbyn is an even worse Labour leader than him |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Ed Miliband has been overheard joking to party MPs that Jeremy Corbyn is an even worse Labour leader than he was. | Ed Miliband has been overheard joking to party MPs that Jeremy Corbyn is an even worse Labour leader than he was. |
In public, Mr Miliband has been assiduously silent about what he thinks about his successor’s performance so far. | In public, Mr Miliband has been assiduously silent about what he thinks about his successor’s performance so far. |
But in private he is understood to have told one of the party’s MPs: “I bet you didn’t think things would actually get worse.” | But in private he is understood to have told one of the party’s MPs: “I bet you didn’t think things would actually get worse.” |
According to the Mail on Sunday Mr Miliband made his comments to Graham Stringer, a Manchester MP who was an outspoken critic of his leadership. | According to the Mail on Sunday Mr Miliband made his comments to Graham Stringer, a Manchester MP who was an outspoken critic of his leadership. |
He then jokingly added: “But I won’t be appointing you as chairman of the campaign for me to return as leader”. | He then jokingly added: “But I won’t be appointing you as chairman of the campaign for me to return as leader”. |
According to one MP who heard the exchange there had been ‘a sharp edge’ to Mr Miliband’s remarks. | According to one MP who heard the exchange there had been ‘a sharp edge’ to Mr Miliband’s remarks. |
“He is obviously not serious about returning as leader, but you get the sense he wants some sort of role again,” he said. | “He is obviously not serious about returning as leader, but you get the sense he wants some sort of role again,” he said. |
The emergence of Mr Miliband’s remarks will embarrass the former leader and comes after a torrid week for Mr Corbyn. | The emergence of Mr Miliband’s remarks will embarrass the former leader and comes after a torrid week for Mr Corbyn. |
He was attacked for questioning the right of the police to ‘shoot to kill’ terrorist suspects and was criticised for his reaction to the attacks in Paris. | He was attacked for questioning the right of the police to ‘shoot to kill’ terrorist suspects and was criticised for his reaction to the attacks in Paris. |
His Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was also forced to deny he wanted to abolish MI5 and armed police. | His Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was also forced to deny he wanted to abolish MI5 and armed police. |
Mr Corbyn is also facing a crucial test of his electability at the Oldham West by-election in ten days’ time. | Mr Corbyn is also facing a crucial test of his electability at the Oldham West by-election in ten days’ time. |
Labour has a majority of 14,738 but is facing a strong challenge from Ukip who are playing up national security concerns as part of their campaign to win the seat. | Labour has a majority of 14,738 but is facing a strong challenge from Ukip who are playing up national security concerns as part of their campaign to win the seat. |
Some have speculated that should Labour lose that might trigger a no-confidence vote among Labour MPs and a mass resignation of Shadow Ministers. However, most people expect Labour to hold the seat all be it with a reduced majority. | Some have speculated that should Labour lose that might trigger a no-confidence vote among Labour MPs and a mass resignation of Shadow Ministers. However, most people expect Labour to hold the seat all be it with a reduced majority. |
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