Is Red Ed On His Way Out?

[naomi24]

//Mr Miliband has faced criticism over his leadership strategy from the Labour ranks amid concerns over Labour's falling poll lead. //

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/another-poll-shocker-for-ed-miliband-and-labour-as-41-of-voters-say-hes-weird-9214770.html

[youngmafbog]

I would have thought Balls was the problem.

It's too late now anyway and I'm sure something will come along soon that will throw the polls.

Polls are fickle things anyway.

[Baldric]

We had a Party Leaflet through the door yesterday, the photo of him on second page prompted me to say exactly the same thing to OH.
He looked seriously deranged!

[DrFilth]

more like blue ed

[Gromit]

It is extremely stupid to call Miliband 'Red Ed'.

Labour will not change leader with only 14 months to the election.

Miliband has been very poor as leader of the opposition. If Labours lead continues to evapourate, we may see another coalition.

[naomi24]

It wasn't so much the result of the poll that prompted this question, but this:

//Mr Miliband has faced criticism over his leadership strategy from the Labour ranks amid concerns over Labour's falling poll lead. In a letter to the Guardian a broad coalition of Labour grandees were united in calls for more clarity about his plans and for his vision to be bolder.

In the letter they said Labour needed a mandate for “transformative change” and warned: “If Labour plays the next election safe, hoping to win on the basis of Tory unpopularity, it will not have earned a mandate for such change.”//

[naomi24]

Gromit, I didn't invent his commonly used nick-name, but that's the second time you've called me stupid in about a week. You really must try harder to be a bit more polite you know.

[emmie]

no, they won't change leader now, its a bit over a year till the general election, too late i would have thought.

[emmie]

what's in a name, they all seem to do it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24280701

[Gromit]

His strategy seems to be not to offend anyone. Unfortunately the result is that he pleases no one. He seems scared of a fight and ducks all the time. The coalition have made many mistakes and their record is poor. But Miliband has not capitalised on that at all. He has given Cameron and Clegg an easy ride.

I keep thinking he is saving himself for the election fight, but I fear they will wipe the floor with him.

[emmie]

if he had say a ten point plan clearly laid out how to get the country back on its feet, i might have some respect for him and his party, however he doesn't, nor does he seem very engaging, i think that the Labour party picked the wrong horse.

[Gromit]

Noami

I did not credit you with coining the stupid nickname, I assume that was some halfwit at the Daily Mail or Conservative cCentral Office.

[youngmafbog]

They did. His brother would have been a thorn in the side of the coalition that's for sure.

Red Ed? I see nothing wrong with that it is not extremely stupid at all, it is used across the board since he was lelected by the Unions. Dont be so bloody rude and superior.

[Gromit]

Naomi

Apologies for your name typo above.

[LazyGun]

I doubt that they will be seriously contemplating a change in leadership at this stage in the election cycle.

I doubt also that a poll about styles will have much influence or is even particularly noteworthy. As has already been noted, polls are volatile.

All party leaders will face criticism from within their own ranks over particular issues of policy - its a fact of political life. But Labour do need to start better articulating what alternatives they plan to offer on the substantive issues, that is certainly true.

Difficult to assess his leadership ability as yet. Will only be able to do that once it has faced the test of the electorate. He has had some awkward and weak moments in Parliament, but he has had his moments too, on issues like hacking and energy prices and Syria.

As to the soubriquet "Red Ed",i t was perhaps inevitable given his name. But when I hear people using the phrase, they always remind me of Joe McCarthy and the whole paranoid "reds under the bed" witch-hunts in 1950s US.

When it comes to names, I feel sorrier for Ed Balls. One imagines that almost all serious politicians at some point in their career will have daydreamed about becoming PM; But to know that you will never ever become PM on the basis of your name alone must be a bit dispiriting :)

[emmie]

as i pointed out many people use it, including the BBC, so why pick on one person, who knows who came up with it, but it's stuck.

[ToraToraTora]

It doesn't help that he comes from a largely anti British family. Probably another coalition for next time then after the sweaties do their moonlight flit, purpetual Tory rule!

[Gromit]

Ymb

If he were 'Red' they would probably be doing better. As it is, he doesn't seem much different from Cameron and Clegg. And that is the problem.

[emmie]

i don't think his family are anti British -

[LazyGun]

3T - "largely anti British family" - Really? Please, enlighten us with your wisdom.

Or is this yet another example of your mindless trope that you have been articulating of late - your simple-minded and baseless assertion that anyone left of some political line that you have drawn up in your head is "anti-British"?

[emmie]

his father Ralph fought for Britain in WW2 to the best of my knowledge.