The FT this morning carried an interview with Ed Miliband with the main news line as his (and his brother’s) advocacy of a higher tax on banks. Intriguingly, he also told me that the two brothers hadn’t had a drink together – or visited one another’s homes – for ages. (I asked him when they last did so, and he just said they had been too busy). It’s slightly curious given that they are appearing at joint hustings 56 times over the summer months.
Listening back through the tape Ed says that he is proud of the fact that the brothers remained “very close” even during the Blair-Brown wars when they were in different trenches. But there was also a telling moment when he was asked if he has a typically fraternal relationship with David: “What is a typical sibling relationship?” he replies. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the famous Prince Charles quote from when he was asked if he was in love with Diana: “Whatever love means“.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey