Sky News presenter Sophy Ridge grilled the former Labour leader over his future plans and if he would rule out standing for his old position in the future . . . and it got a bit heated
Former Labour leader and staunch Keir Starmer ally Ed Miliband has officially ruled himself out of running for the top job – for good. To the sadness of nobody but the Miliband family (maybe), the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary opened up on the chaos currently surrounding Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
Starmer is under fire after the appointment of Peter Mandelson, subsequent sacking, and new revelations over the latter’s connections to paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
And when asked by Sky News presenter Sophy Ridge whether or not he would be standing in any leadership contest should one happen, he said no . . . eventually.
During his Mornings with Ridge and Frost on Sky News appearance, he said it was “absolute, absolute baloney” that he was making a leadership pitch, and then said he was only interested” in supporting Keir Starmer”.
The conversation then became a little . . . heated, which we’ve put here in full:
Sophy Ridge: “Are you interested at all?”
Ed Miliband: “Nope. I’ve said this before.”
Sophy Ridge: “No, I know, I know, yeah.”
Ed Miliband: “No. No baloney. Honestly.”
Sophy Ridge: “So are you interested in the leadership?”
Ed Miliband: “No, I’m interested in supporting Keir Starmer.”
Sophy Ridge: “Can you rule out running for the leadership?”
Ed Miliband: “I’m not running for leadership, no.”
Sophy Ridge: “Can you rule out.”
Ed Miliband: “Yeah. I’m not running for the leadership.”
Sophy Ridge: “I know you’re not running for it right now, but can you rule out running for leadership.”
Ed Miliband: “Yes. Yes. I’m not going to run.”
Sophy Ridge: “Yeah. The Sun reported a Labour source saying Ed is preparing to run again. He’s told people, despite what he says when he’s interviewed. Are you lying to me?”
Ed Miliband: “Such and such a reliable, such a reliable newspaper.”
Sophy Ridge: “Are you lying to me?”
Ed Miliband: “Of course I’m not. Don’t be. Be ridiculous. You know, I did the job before. I’ve said before, I think to you that it inoculated me against this. I’m interested in supporting Keir. That’s the duty we all have. And I think, look, there is an important point here because your correspondent made reference to this. I think partly people remember what happened under the Tories and the chaos and disorder that there, that there was. We don’t want to go down that road.”
Starmer is now odds on favourite with most bookies to leave his job soon, with many claiming he could go within the next week or so.
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