When we could all have done with some soothing liniment, up stepped Ed Miliband to create a fresh squall of argy-bargy. It was the last morning of Labour’s tetchy conference. Energy Secretary Ed was preceded by a trade-union pudding called Tracey. He couldn’t get her out the way fast enough. Tracey was still lingering at the lectern as Ed shimmered up and practically barged her aside. Thang yew, Tracey, now beggar off and let me have a go!
Oh, the guile of his opening. ‘Let me say something about my friend Keir Starmer.’ This was done in the pitying tone you use when someone has had a terrible wipeout on the Cresta Run. From a mere reading of Ed’s words you could, if charitable, conclude he was being supportive of our stricken PM. And yes, he did say Sir Keir’s Tuesday speech was ‘a complete barnstormer’. But there were, as wine buffs say, ‘other notes’ to this mouthful.
Mr Miliband was taking ownership of the nasal knight. With an aw-shucks laugh he said he understood the difficulties of leadership. He was patronising the PM. Morgan McSweeney will love that.
‘I know this party and I love this party and I love you,’ purred Ed, before giving a sticky smile that flattened his conk and bared his teeth, Terry-Thomas style.
