All five Labour leadership candidates are interviewed in this Saturday’s Independent. It could almost be a spoof from Tory head office. Ed and David give identical answers more than once: closer to ‘Two Little Boys’ than Cain and Abel. Both of them name their parents as the greatest influence on their political careers. Diane Abbott nominates Nelson Mandela, and bizarrely declares Michelle Obama to be the person she most admires, “a great role model for young women”. Yes, all young women should make it their main aim in life to marry a famous and successful man.

One cannot doubt that, as the polls are increasingly suggesting, the brothers Miliband are the only credible candidates - as poorly as their decision to run against each other speaks of both of their characters. When asked to describe their biggest mistake, David points to supporting the Iraq war and Ed to the expenses scandal. Andy Burnham instead offers an incomprehensible anecdote about Shimon Peres, Ed Balls arrogantly implies his only mistake has been not being assertive enough, and Abbott pathetically ignores the question all together and simply attacks the Lib Dems.

All five clearly intend attacks on Nick Clegg to be the centre of their opposition strategy. In other areas though, the candidates do show real differences. David’s pledge to ‘rebuild the party’ contrasts greatly in tone with his brother’s plans to ‘put Labour’s values first’. Today’s Indie makes it clear what he thinks that means. Regressive it may be, but one cannot help preferring his and Balls’ confidence in Old Labour ideas over Andy Burnham’s indecision over electoral reform - “I am tending towards supporting AV but am not yet fully persuaded” -  and vacuous references to a personal ideology he calls ‘Aspirational Socialism’ - “the best of Old Labour, and the best of New Labour”. Next to Ed Balls declaring “New Labour, Old Labour, whatever”, Burnham comes across, surprisingly, as the one candidate stuck in the past.

The candidates are asked to choose their favourite film. Ed and David share the same one, Twelve Angry Men. A great movie, but impeccably politically correct and entirely humourless - how apt. One almost warms to Ed Balls for his choice. Burnham predictably goes for a paean to his home town. Abbott, meanwhile, opts for The Godfather: a tale of ambition, loyalty, betrayal and sibling rivalry, culminating in fratricide. What could she possibly be trying to say?

Filed under: davidmiliband, edmiliband, labour, ukpolitics on August 30th, 2010