Space Cadet

"Labour leader comes out fighting," proclaims Britain's leading liberal newspaper, in the wake of an interview with that weird little man who seems to think that the Labour party, rather than the sort of people who get kicked off the steps of St Paul's, constitutes a genuine opposition to the Government. The Upper (formerly Lower) Miliband proclaimed that Daveybloke's Cuddly Coalition will be a one-term affair, which given the Deputy Conservatives' likely fate is hardly a bold supposition; but the Upper (formerly Lower) Miliband also ventured to suggest that its successor will be a Labour administration, which is rather more doubtful. The reason for this may be seen in one of the factors which the Upper (formerly Lower) Miliband considers very exciting and potentially positive: namely that Labour is once again succeeding in poaching Conservative voters rather than anyone whose politics might be construed as dangerously left of centre. The Conservatives believe that the poor and vulnerable should pay for the greed and stupidity of the rich and powerful, and Labour agrees with them; the Conservatives believe that the National Health Service should be based in competition and run for profit, and Labour agrees with them; the Conservatives believe that the United Kingdom is one and indivisible for ever, and Labour agrees with them; the Conservatives believe that the poor need kicking and the rich need pampering, and Labour agrees with them; the Conservatives believe that Government policy should be available to the highest bidder, and Labour agrees with them. "Our job is to move into that space and that space is opening up," proclaimed the Upper (formerly Lower) Miliband, yet again consigning the disenfranchised to the outer margins of Galloway, Green and Elsewhere. He thinks Labour has to engage better with the provincials, and that is very exciting for him. So, if only by the undemanding standards of the Upper (formerly Lower) Miliband, I suppose he did come out fighting, a bit.