Load of Old Eds ?

[olddutch]

Two of the candidates attempting to become the next Labour leader have criticised the decision to invade Iraq.

Ed Balls, the former children's secretary, told the Daily Telegraph the war was "wrong" and "a mistake".
And former energy secretary Ed Miliband told The Guardian the way the decision to go to war was taken "led to a catastrophic loss of trust in Labour".

But rival candidate John McDonnell said he welcomed their "road to Damascus conversion" but it was far too late and if the men had had the "courage of their convictions" to speak out at the time, many lives may have been saved. Mr McDonnell called on the two to join him in a call for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. He said: "Others have said [their comment] smacks of opportunism because of the leadership election but I want to say to them is we have got another war now and it's Afghanistan."

Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon, was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq, said she could not understand the timing of Mr Miliband and Mr Balls' statements. She said: "It's an insult to the families just now."

Opportunistic hypocrites or men who have belatedly seen the light ?

[olddutch]

ed and spare ed of AB not included !

[Quizmonster]

Was either of the two Eds even an MP when the war in Iraq started?

[bazwillrun]

typical politicians, say whatever to try and get a vote from whereever.

both of them are a pair of little twerps, pathetic hypocritical individuals.

[Dodger666]

"Balls" just about sums it all up for me, a load of old................

What won't these people do to get a vote?

[jno]

neither was in Parliament at the time.

I think both are correct.

[BillyBB]

Here is Ed Balls voting record

Voted very strongly for more EU integration.
Voted very strongly for replacing Trident.
Voted strongly for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests.
Voted strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.

Now against the war but when in government he kept loyal to deny an investigation into it.
Hypocrite, opportunist, populist, unprincipled.

[BillyBB]

Here is Ed Milipede

Voted very strongly for more EU integration.
Voted very strongly for replacing Trident.
Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.
Voted very strongly for introducing a smoking ban.

Same old story. Bloodsucking scum.

[BillyBB]

I will add that Balls may have also voted very strongly against investigation but did not bother turning up for all the divisions like mBand.

[jno]

that's what party discipline is about. Do you actually want a government where senior figures are at war with each other all the time?

Now they're out of government they are free to speak as they wish, and you can decide if you agree with them.

[Gromit]

The Iraq adventure has clearly been bad for this country. Strategically it wa barmy, poorly planned and our participation in it was a mistake.

Anyone standing as party leader should outline their views on a range of subjects. The timing is proper. The bereaved lady you quote would never be happy with the timing, whether these two made their statements anytime in the last 8 years. Both became MPs after the war started, and joined a Government that supported our involvement, and an MP should support his own Government and Party.

Now they are free of the burden of leading, and they party whips, they are free to offer a more personal and truthful opinion.

[Dodger666]

"and an MP should support his own Government and Party"....................

...............and here is me thinking a MP should represent his constituents, not that any of them do. Silly me.

[Gromit]

dodger666

As a rule, most people vote for a Party or who they think will lead the country better. They rRely know or have met any of the candidates, especiay if they are not an incumbant. You wouldn't want to vote Conservative and find the person you voted fir wants to join the Euro and scrap Trident, then where wod we be?

[rov1200]

David Miliband who used to work for Tony Blair has obviously assumed some of his master's posturings. ' Lets move on from the Iraq war'!!!

Of course he would say that after a million people have been killed. So flippant!
The unlawful Iraq war will live on for another century at least. I hope so to prevent something similar happening again.