Official rubbishes talk of Miliband challenge
Aug 9 2008 by William Green, The Journal
A SENIOR official in David Miliband’s local Labour Party has warned against a leadership battle with Gordon Brown.
Mark Walsh, secretary of the South Shields Labour Party, also said that Mr Miliband has not discussed any bid for the party leadership with him and urged rebellious MPs to “shut up”.
His comments in an interview with The Journal come amid renewed speculation the South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary is planning a leadership bid as the apparent jockeying for position was described as “contemptible” by one North East Labour MP. Mr Miliband was also reported to be lining up former cabinet minister Alan Milburn, MP for Darlington, as Chancellor if he takes over – although their offices rubbished the claims. It follows a newspaper article last week in which the Foreign Secretary set out his vision for reviving Labour’s fortunes.
But Mr Walsh said: “My feeling really is that Gordon Brown is doing an excellent job and I don’t think anything would be achieved by any leadership battle.
“To be honest, I don’t think what David put in The Guardian was any challenge to Gordon Brown. It was just stating some simple facts on what the Labour Party needs to do to win the next general election.”
Mr Walsh said Mr Miliband had not discussed any leadership plan with him. He said: “I think it is the media being a bit naughty and looking for a battle when there isn’t one there.”
He also urged MPs to show restraint, saying: “They really should shut up and concentrate on fighting the real battle, which is against the Conservatives.” Mr Walsh said Mr Miliband was an excellent MP for South Shields and would have his “full backing” if he decided to stand for the party leadership – if something happened to the Prime Minister.
His comments came as one North East Labour MP told The Journal that supporters of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who used to represent Sedgefield, might attempt a “putsch” against the current premier.
The MP, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I think the whole lot of them should go. They are an utter disgrace. We are seeing stupidity, vanity and obsession about personal position destroy a great political party with appalling consequences for the people it should be helping.
“It is one of the most contemptible things I have seen. It is irresponsible, contemptible and will end in disaster.”
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Secretary dismissed the report about Mr Milburn as “a complete work of fiction”, adding there had not been any discussions. “There is no leadership challenge,” she added, while Mr Milburn’s office said the report was “all untrue”.
