David Miliband to step down as MP

[Jimbuna]

My friend, former Foreign Secretary in the last Labour government and local Constituency MP David Miliband will be announcing his retirement from politics tomorrow.

All the best for the future David

David Miliband is planning to leave Parliament to move to the US to work for a charity, a close friend has confirmed to the BBC.
He is going to become head of the International Rescue Committee in New York, the BBC understands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21947497

[STEED]

Reading comments in news story's there are some who are saying he jumped ship because he knows labour is finished. Other comments not so nice, as I can see it he was the only one who had leadership material and with him stepping down...The outcome for labour is going to be a rough ride.

[Jimbuna]

You may well be right.

[TarJak]

Sounds like your Labour party is self destructing much as ours is.

[Jimbuna]

Can't go into too much detail but I reckon there is more than politics surrounding this decision.

[Oberon]

A shame, he should be in the driving seat, not Ed. Ed is too much of a Union puppet to be taken seriously by anyone who isn't in a union and many who are.

Honestly I couldn't predict who will get in in the next election because no-one particularly likes any of the three main parties right now...

[Synthfg]

Originally Posted by TarJak

Sounds like your Labour party is self destructing much as ours is.

Labour has been lurching left for a while now, dragged there by the Bennites in the party and the Unions who's money is keeping the party afloat

The Blarite centrists are being eased out (purged) and Dave is only the latest to go

Those driving Labour these days would rather loose the next election so long as they return the party to it's ideologically pure roots even if that ideology has long proven to be bankrupt

[BossMark]

Shame I voted for David in Labour leader elections, I really wanted David to be leader.
But I am not sure whether he should resign as an MP halfway through parliament unless through ill health, but thats David's decision and I wish him the very best of luck in the future.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Friends or not, how many of his many trips to the US since the last election were for the benefit of his constituents?

[Jimbuna]

In hindsight possibly too many but nowhere near as many 'trips' many other politicians make outside of their constituencies.

In the end this is probably the correct decision and one which quells all the whispers abounding between friends and foe.

[BossMark]

You fancy being the MP for South Shields then Jim?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

In the end this is probably the correct decision and one which quells all the whispers abounding between friends and foe.

For what it's worth, I think he should've been in Ed's place. And pushed Brown out when it would've been a good move.

Friends and foe, I'll still buy you a pint* one day, Jim.

*Just not in a Labour or Socialist club.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by BossMark

You fancy being the MP for South Shields then Jim?

Nope and if nobody is parachuted in (as was David for Dr David Clark) I have a strong fancy for who it will be.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

For what it's worth, I think he should've been in Ed's place. And pushed Brown out when it would've been a good move.

Friends and foe, I'll still buy you a pint* one day, Jim.

*Just not in a Labour or Socialist club.

Your on...I may be a Labour Party member but I can assure you I don't see everything through rose tinted glasses and have been known to voice my doubts on more than a few occasions.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Your on...I may be a Labour Party member but I can assure you I don't see everything through rose tinted glasses and have been known to voice my doubts on more than a few occasions.

Me too from the other side of the fence, never more so than the last two and a bit years.