The talking point this morning in Westminster - for those who haven’t escaped to a beach - will be this fascinating article in the Daily Telegraph.

David Miliband’s spokeswoman told me last night, definitely, that the story (”Miliband lines up Milburn for the Treasury) was “complete nonsense” and that there was no leadership plot. Alan Milburn said today: “I told the paper yesterday it was complete bollocks and I am amazed that they have run with it.”

The tale does have an air of plausibility, however, at least in terms of Miliband (or his people) discussing with Alan Milburn the possible configurations of a future cabinet which would include him.

But has Miliband actually offered the job of Chancellor - second most important political post in the UK - to the former health secretary?

To quote the Telegraph: “Mr Milburn…is understood to have told Mr Miliband he would be happy to accept the Treasury”.

That is not the same thing.

In strategic terms, meanwhile, would Miliband (seen as a Blairite) lose support within the Parliamentary Labour party from having such a prominent uber-Blairite as his Chancellor? (See my blog from Monday). His power base is already weak among the unions and the leftwing grassroots, where there is no love lost for Milburn either.

I bet the Brownite coterie are kicking themselves for not starting the Milburn rumour themselves………

August 6th, 2008 in Current Affairs, David Miliband, Gordon Brown, Labour, Tony Blair, Uncategorised | Permalink