Economists reject Unite leader Sharon Graham's claim about Ed Miliband
More than 40 progressive economists have written to Unite leader Sharon Graham urging her to withdraw her assertion that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband would 'destroy jobs' if appointed chancellor. The economists point to analysis showing the UK net zero economy already generates over £100 billion in output and employs more than one million workers, saying Miliband's climate-focused agenda supports employment. Graham made the comment during internal Labour discussions over who Andy Burnham might appoint as chancellor, with Miliband and Wes Streeting among the names floated. The dispute matters because Unite's stance could influence Labour's chancellor choice and shape the party's policy on net zero jobs and energy strategy.
For what it's worth Andy Burnham allies I've spoken to do still believe he will go with Ed Miliband as Chancellor
Helen12138He'd be a good choice. Anyone but Streeting... 🙄
Stephen Carey26No fucking compromises! Just go for it. Live or die by what you believe, Andy Burnham. Do.Not.Give.A.Shit.What.The.Right.Wing.Press.Write. (They'll slaughter you no matter what you do because you are not one of them).
Paul Russell13Would be a good indicator to the bond markets that, no, they don’t actually get to appoint the cabinet.
Sixes All The Way8It'll be interesting to note how Milliband might seek to pursue green policies should he be installed as chancellor. I doubt he'll adopt anything like a radical approach but he did admit that during his stint as leader to being far too willing to go along with LP right-wing's neoliberal orthodoxy.
Claire S (UK not USA)7Worth nowt at the moment as Burnham isn't the PM.
Foss Mann7Not forgetting he might need to get through a leadership election first.
Pete Marchetto6Streeting is British politics' Walter Mitty. 81 fantasy nominations. Loud claims to participation in conversations that take place in his absence and in which he's not mentioned. When the only evidence for the things Streeting says is the fact that he's saying them, perhaps he's best ignored.
John Baldy6Could be a game-changer for our environment
MKC6Ed HAS to stay as energy secretary.
David Irwin4I don't think "soft-left leader probably needs soft-left Chancellor" is a mad position. Streeting probably needs a decent role to honour Burnham's talk of pluralism, but Foreign Office makes more sense than outsourcing economic policy to a bloke who has spent a decade disagreeing with you.
R1ch1e54I bloody well hope so.
Suzy Brewster3So is AB definitely the next PM?
Labour Led By Burnham For Me 🌹3Burnham is keeping Mahmood, he is going to be hated just like Starmer... He won't change anything. 🥀
sandrablan.bsky.social3I hope you're right. You can't beg for the green vote and put someone like Streeting in No 11.
Sarah MacDonnell2Ooh hope so. Dream team combining the relative strengths of each; ideas, policy nous, implementation and communication, and ideologically aligned.
Mario2Does Reeves deserve the chop though? Feels very partisan. I would want to see a clear gap between her and Miliband to make it worthwhile
mattP#BRETURN2I think reeves needs to go if we can break from the disastrous no change to tax promise
Age Garton2Who’s he going to appoint to get us back in the EU? Oh.
ÓLiatháin ☘️💚2Still hoping he fucks over Wes and slings him to back-bench obscurity
I think the unions are fundamentally wrong about Ed Miliband and i think people on this website dont understand what an union is
Jay Zedbee123the unions are not instruments to do good and bring progress for all mankind. their job is to advocate for their workers. they are not gonna back the guy with the "i think this industry needs to be dismantled" platform. they just wont
Sam Wilson26I am a member of union almost entirely out of self-interest and I am surprised more people can’t admit that to themselves
johnandrewmullen.bsky.social21It also shows a profound lack of historical sense. The unions have frequently blocked progressive changes over the decades!
Robin Wilde4It's a sort of Nice Things club you join if you're a Good Person like everyone here believes themselves to be.
chrisptato.bsky.social2As a non union person but who is sympathetic- i find their language is often alienating. Choice of words can sound very "1970s" and narrowly self-interested, RMT in particular
Sean2my first job I had to pay money to the SDA, the union (Joe de Bruyn) that happily allowed John Howard (John Howard!!!) wedge Labor on LGBT rights
johnandrewmullen.bsky.social2I think it’s a miners’ strike nostalgia thing in the UK - the left (which I am!) have an unhealthy love of a romantic defeat.
Putting aside that Ed Miliband is, of course, the modern equivalent of a Nigerian dictator, he is the logical choice for Chancellor because: A) he has treasury experience. B) he has made the transition to government well. C) Net zero is the closest thing Labour has to an economic policy.
Tom Roberts26GB Energy, or whatever he ended up calling it, also functions enough like the Greater Manchester Investment Fund, providing sympathetic funding to help derisk private projects, that it is the closest thing the government has to "Manchesterism" writ large.
Bender11D) Net Zero is the closest thing Labour has to a defence policy. E) Net Zero is the closest thing Labour has to an industrial strategy
Joel4... run that first bit by me again?
Imagine having to say that the Uk needs to stick to Net Zero during a 40'C heatwave. OF COURSE WE NEED TO STICK TO NET ZERO YOU DRIBBLING HALFWITS www.theguardian.com/environment/...
kevjs1982.uk8Want your electric bills to fall, even when the next despot decides to do a war? The invest in renewables! www.yahoo.com/news/world/a...
Paul M 🇮🇪🇨🇦🇫🇷🚲🍉2And you don’t have to squeeze sunshine or wind through a shooting gallery like the Strait of Hormuz. This is Father Ted/Father Dougal level shit.
Burnham supporters divided between Miliband and Streeting for chancellor.. Everyone else firmly agreed; Anyone But Streeting.
haxar.bsky.social2I would guess the reason Burnham's supporters (read: self-serving neoliberal centrists) can't decide is that on the one hand, Streeting is loathsome to everyone but on the other, Milliband might want to do a good job rather than the job they tell him to.
Siobhán Freya2Streeting for Governor of St Helena If it was good enough for Napoleon plus it gets him out of our hair