Ed Miliband's first job was as an assistant to Tony Benn, who was a family friend. “A nice lad, very helpful,” was how Benn described the teenage Ed in his diary. Ever since, Ed has been on a quest to prove his left-wing credentials.
A quest that brought disaster
The mission has brought drama to his family, defeat to the Labour Party, destruction to the British economy, dereliction to North Sea oilfields and, this week, despair to Israel. Benn also wrote that Ed was “very modest”, but that early verdict no longer rings true.
In fact, what’s really striking about him is his towering ambition, highlighted by his willingness to wreck his brother’s political career through his determination to win the Labour leadership, even though he had dissuaded David from running against Gordon Brown in 2009.
From defeat to the Foreign Office
Having seized the crown himself, he was badly beaten by David Cameron in the 2015 General Election. As a parting gift to his shattered party, he foolishly bequeathed a new, heavily discounted membership scheme that facilitated a takeover by the cult of Jeremy Corbyn.
The advent of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership was a chance for redemption, but as Energy Secretary, his focus was on implementing the green agenda, which won cheers from activists but imposed crippling burdens on businesses and consumers.
His recent elevation to the Foreign Office has allowed him to consolidate his status as hero of the left by adopting a much more hostile stance towards Israel.
A disastrous road?
His ego may be massaged by the praise from anti-Zionists and Islamists. He may have boosted Labour’s support among urban progressive and Muslim voters, especially with his savage denunciations of ethnic cleansing.
But by alienating much of Britain’s Jewish population as well as turning against the Middle East’s most effective bulwark of democracy, Miliband could be taking Britain down a disastrous road.
