"We are with you against privatisation", says Miliband

[DavidUK]

I have never voted Labour and never will, so it is wonderful news that you fellas can see Ed Milliband for the political opportunist and lightweight that he is.

Is this one of those "an enemy of my enemy is my friend" speeches David?
All politicians are political opportunists....it's in the job description.
Just because we can see through one chancer doesn't mean we are about to jump into bed with another.
How is the Royal Mail Pro-Privatisation Campaign going anyway?

Yes I suppose it is in a way

However, you are wrong about all politicians being 'opportunists'. Sure, many are, but equally there are many, both right and left, who genuinely stick by their principals, even if it makes them unpopular in some cases. I have far more respect for the latter group even if I don't always agree with their message.

I'm afraid any possible privatisation is completely out of my hands

[Big Daz]

When ever Labour are reminded in the H of C or H of L about their plans the response is that the Condem PSB is different from the Labour PSB in that the condem plan is no public stakeholding compared to Labours majority share state holding.

It would be very interesting to see what would have happened if the condems had stuck to the minority private stake that labour had planned.

[silly suffolk]

a lot of vitriol against ed milliband on here, but he's the best of a bad bunch amongst political leaders and i would trust him ahead of an old etonian and assorted multi millionaires.

[smokerjim]

When ever Labour are reminded in the H of C or H of L about their plans the response is that the Condem PSB is different from the Labour PSB in that the condem plan is no public stakeholding compared to Labours majority share state holding.

It would be very interesting to see what would have happened if the condems had stuck to the minority private stake that labour had planned.

Sorry Daz, but imh( & slightly pissed)o, even if Neu Liebour were in power now & for the next 50 years, we'd have been part privatised until the shite hit the economic fan again, and another chunk would have been sliced off, repeat ad infinitum until RM became wholly private. Frankly NL / Mandelson introducing the idea of selling even a bit of RM off gave Dave & Gideon the green light to stomp across ground even Thatcher feared to walk across, namely ridding RM off HM Govt's books / removing HM govt's responsibility for RM / removing the last vestige of public service or national industry from public conciousness

[smokerjim]

a lot of vitriol against ed milliband on here, but he's the best of a bad bunch amongst political leaders and i would trust him ahead of an old etonian and assorted multi millionaires.

Yes but he's not much better than those around him....the closest connection to old school socialism he has is his dad Ralph, he had a brief career in tv journalism, then went straight into politics as a speechwriter & researcher for Harriet Harperson ( ie hasn't spent a lot of time in any sort of manual or working class industry ) so as far as I care, he don't know what it's like to worry about the simple things in life, like the basic hourly rate of pay, or if you'll get a raise this year, or rent, or anything for your transport like a travelcard or car tax, insurence, repairs, even just a week's bloody petrol....all the things I worry about ( and have worried about on a week to week or month to month basis for the last 20 odd years )

I'm not saying that all of Labour are guilty or being champange socialists ( just as those from working class roots aren't all sell outs like Prescott ) but frankly for many in the Parlimentry Labour Party, the links to the working class are so tenuous as to be invisible, and have been for the last 15 - 20 years or more!

[Big Daz]

a lot of vitriol against ed milliband on here, but he's the best of a bad bunch amongst political leaders and i would trust him ahead of an old etonian and assorted multi millionaires.

I would put Caroline Lucas above Ed M

[fishtank]

To be honest Ed Milliband hasn't been tested yet,following Gordon Brown is not the most difficult of tasks and being in opposition to both the Conservatives and Lib Dems means that he has an open field to attack Government policy.
The real test is whether he can move the party on from the Tony Blair legacy....something Gordon couldn't do.

[BELIAL]

Listening to his rhetoric so far ,just another new labour test tube baby, tory, new tory or yellow tory same solution different timescale ,fleece the workers so the rich can feast. tipping point,just one step too far ,just one incident too many

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Listening to his rhetoric so far ,just another new labour test tube baby, tory, new tory or yellow tory same solution different timescale ,fleece the workers so the rich can feast. tipping point,just one step too far ,just one incident too many

There is one argument that says AV will help true progressive parties - unfortunately the bloke saying that included New Labour and Lib Dems (AKA the left wing of the Tories) as part of the progressive left.

I do wonder though if AV will help true left wing parties overcome the current disparate and frankly ludicrous situation which we have with the Alphabet Soup and shout of "Splitters" approach.

[BELIAL]

Not a clue TBT. But I do Know one thing ,If those in power offer it as a choice it will not benefit you or me,just like the status quo ,red herrings and safe issues will keep you neatly in your place