Miliband v Miliband: the battle of brothers

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Today’s G2 has an interesting profile of the brothers Miliband – and their increasing “rivalry” over the prospect of attaining the Labour leadership in the future.

The feature, with a boxing-style billing on the section’s front page, carries a number of interesting quotes from people close to both brothers.

Sir David King, the government’s former chief scientist says:

“Most of us have become increasingly impressed with Ed. David appears a little bit gauche, a little bit strange to the public eye, prone to suck the end of his tie in public…or put his feet up on a table in front of a big meeting. This is because his mind becomes totally engaged with the problem and he sort of forgets what his hands and legs are doing.”

Those doubts about geekiness still apply to both brothers – and won’t be allayed by photographs of the two in the 1990s with round glasses and toothy smiles.

On the leadership prospects, one “New Labour veteran” says:

“It is a bit like two brothers who fall in love with the same woman. The woman loves both of them. What should they do? Flip a coin? Actually, it is horrible. If it is a woman, it only matters to three people. But who is leader of the Labour Party matters to the country.”

The line sounds distinctly like one former editor of this parish.

The debate over who would be the most fitting candidate for the leadership has long raged in the Labour Party – with many believing Ed would defer to his elder brother David. That perception has been shifting over the last few months – with Ed becoming the increasingly popular likely lad, the brother with momentum.

But the G2 says that “with support growing for Miliband Junior, supporters of his older brother are embarking on some discreet lobbying”. Another family friend remarks “it is absolutely clear that David is going to stand. There is no doubt.”

Read the full G2 profile here.