David Miliband is under fire from all quarters of the Labour party over his conduct during and after the Hoon-Hewitt attempted coup. “Serial bottler” is one of the milder insults hurled at him.
Certainly, Miliband kept well away from the spotlight until it became evident that the plot had probably failed and his lukewarm statements of support thereafter conspicuously failed to affirm any belief on his part that Gordon Brown is the right person to lead the party.
Miliband’s best opportunity to overthrow Brown was in the feverish summer of 2008 and there is no doubt that he funked it then. This close to a general election, however, he is probably right to keep his head, so far as possible, below the parapet. If he had joined the coup and succeeded Brown a matter of weeks before the poll, he would have reaped the wrath of the party if Labour lost.
As things stand, Miliband’s timidity will probably be forgotten in the post-election turmoil. He still has everything to play for and is wise to keep his powder dry.
