The Rest Is Politics: Leading 135. Ed Miliband: Blair, Brown, and Battling his Brother (Part 1)
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May 25, 2025 Ed Miliband, former Leader of the Labour Party and current Shadow Secretary for Climate Change, shares the impact of his Holocaust-survivor upbringing on his political views. He humorously recounts being dubbed 'Emissary from planet F***' while mediating the Blair-Brown dynamic. Ed also discusses the emotional complexities of his family, including his rivalry with his brother during the leadership race, and reflects on how socioeconomic challenges shape today's political landscape. Dive into the anecdotes that reveal the intersection of personal and political life.
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Holocaust Shaped Miliband's Politics
- Ed Miliband's parents were Jewish refugees who survived the Holocaust, deeply shaping his political outlook.
- His mother survived thanks to the heroism of a Polish family, embedding a belief in human goodness.
Miliband Sr.'s Marxist View
- Ralph Miliband saw Marxism as a societal analysis tool rather than a political prescription.
- He valued egalitarianism but was skeptical of communism as practiced in the USSR.
The Infamous Party Away Day
- A memorable party away day revealed divisions where 'everyone except Tony Blair' displayed left-leaning views.
- Tony Blair called it a takeover by "Marxists," highlighting tensions within New Labour.
