Now that Mr Steele would have my backing:hugesmile:

I agree lostalex, I do feel David was the stronger of the 2 and had more appeal to the public too.
However, having said that, it is a rare thing for parties in UK politics,especially since the war to come back from defeat and win the next election in one go.

It has only happened once in UK politics since 1945 and that was Harold Wilson leading Labour back to Govt in 1974 after being defeated himself in 1970.

When you look at the scale of the defeat for Labour in 2010, them going to 29.6% of the votes as opposed to the Conservatives taking 36.9% of the votes.
The fact that Ed miliband has held the lead for the last 3 years at least and is still in a winning position with the Conservative party still plodding around in the lower 30s of percentage of voting intention.
Then that is quite a turnaround that Ed Miliband has done so far for the Labour party.

Ed Miliband has his party in the position where it is at the very least likely going to be the largest party anyway, if he holds on to this 2% to 5% lead,even that small lead will give him an overall majority in all probablility.

I also believe come the conference season this year that d Miliband will have a great deal more up his sleeve,I think he is underestimated a lot of the time and he has seen how he can set the talking agenda as to policy as he did with energy costs last year.


Kizzy and Kazanne, thank you very much for your comments, I won't be looking to stand as a candidate in any way in 2015, however who knows for the future.
One thing is sure, I would,if I was looking for to be a candidate,be 100% happy to be standing for the labour party under Ed Miliband's leadership.
At least I would feel at home there due to the sensitivity and compassion of the policies which are far more in line with my thinking than the heartless, prejudiced and discriminatory policies the most vulnerable have had to suffer under this shower in Govt. at present.

The way David did a runner following his defeat speaks volumes, Blairites we don't need thankyou...
I'm hoping that the Labour party under Ed will aid to rebuild infrastructure, it will be a seemingly impossible task, by the time if or when he does enter there will be nothing of value left that hasn't been sold off to tory backers.
I think the fact he hasn't been grandstanding is very reassuring, he is preparing for government and that takes a lot of work I would have thought.
Personally I haven't met Ed Milliband but I have met Rachel Reeves, she is very warm, intelligent and has a social conscience not traits usually found in MPs :laugh:
You hear that joey? Hurry up the nation needs you! :)

Ed Miliband is quite strange and sounds awful, in fact I think "Mr Ed" probably talks more sense and is definitely easier to listen to.

Quite a statement based on meeting one MP.

As I have said before to you Kizzy, Rachel Reeves is a truly 'real' and genuine person in politics.
She holds a great deal of the same thinking as Ed Miliband and therefore it is no surprise she is one of his rising stars.
I have heard her speak many times and she is one of the warmest and nicest individuals you could meet.
She will make a really excellent cabinet Minister and if she got Work and Pensions, then real understanding and compassion will I am certain be brought into all policy making and the further reforms in that department.

I don't care what Ed Miliband looks like or sounds like, it what he believes and stands for and what he says he will do that is the key for me.

We have all these near supposed perfect and educated Cabinet Ministers who talk expressing the word 'do' as 'dooo',it all sounds good to some but sadly the content of the words,tone,attitude and ideas are heartless and unjust most of the time.
Give me someone any day who speaks about fairness and justice and believes in compassion, treating people as individuals with dignity and not blocks or numbers,then I wouldn't care one bit as to how they sound or look.
I find very little of that indeed as to the way of fairness.justice and compassion from these so called wonderful talkers there are in Govt at present.

What people do,how they think as to others, how they look out for and treat other people is of far more importance to me.
In all that Ed Miliband stands massively above the likes of David Cameron, Ian Duncan Smith and George Osborne, indeed above most of this hardline,extreme uncaring cabinet.

I don't think much of what you've said is in question, Joey. This thread is about the 'public' perception. Anyone posting on this thread is at least interested in politics... half the public don't even vote though, as you know, and many more don't look beyond the façade.

That is very sadly true,I agree.

I agree totally Joey, we can only hope that there aren't too many hardnosed ' I'm alright jack' types that snub their noses at anyone who didn't go to Oxbridge or Eton voting them back in eh? :)

It is quite a statement livia, as a member of the next cabinet I would trust Rachel Reeves over any of this current shower. Have to say your rather unflattering comment was quite a statement too.

I note you comment includes the old "Oxbridge" jibe. I would remind you that despite my academic achievements I am working class, I come from the East End of London. Please stop trying to lump me in with these people because I used to work for them. It's getting very... veeery... old.

My post referred to any blinkered hardline tory voter, if you identify with that fine but it was unintentional.