Ed Miliband’s woes took a new twist today when one of his closest allies appeared to mix him up with his brother David as he urged MPs to unite to get a Labour leader into Number 10.
Chuka Umunna said a move to topple Ed was from a “small minority” of Labour MPs, despite more widespread grumblings within the party.
“Ultimately they have to reflect on what is going to deliver better outcomes for their people,” said the Streatham MP.
“I know for my constituents, a united Labour party in ensuring that we get Dave... that we get Ed Miliband into No 10, I know ultimately that is what is going to make a difference to their lives.”
However, Mr Umunna later said that his mention of “Dave” was a reference to the Prime Minister rather than David Miliband, who was beaten by Ed in the battle for the Labour leadership after the 2010 election.
“I was thinking in my head not to forget to mention David Cameron’s two defections,” said shadow business secretary Mr Umunna. “These things happen. We are all human.”
He also insisted on Sky News that Labour was “within touching distance of power”. He added: “It’s going to be a tough and close election but I fundamentally believe we can win.”
After days of sniping from rebels, Mr Miliband was today seeking to move on with a speech to business chiefs in London highlighting differences between Labour and the Tories on Britain’s EU links.
Lucy Powell, who Mr Miliband has promoted to vice-chairman of the general election campaign, and shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint will address a meeting of Labour’s parliamentary party this evening.
Ms Powell has warned plotters they are damaging the party’s election hopes. “When you have continuing anonymous stories being floated around that somehow Ed has lost the confidence of his MPs and so on, that obviously feeds a wider concern in the public about whether he’s got the leadership qualities to lead his own party, let alone the country,” she said.
Ms Flint has admitted some colleagues were having “jitters”.
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock denied that Mr Miliband was “in danger”, attacked the rebels as “cowards” and warned that a coup would be “political suicide”. But Mr Miliband’s critics say senior MPs are failing to face up to Labour’s problems, with the leader’s poll ratings falling and the party seeing its lead over the Conservatives eroded.
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls also faces a revolt over the proposed tax on properties worth more than £2 million.
Croydon North MP Steve Reed has called for the policy to be adapted so homes caught by the levy are not nearly all in London. “If we’re going to have a tax on mansions, then it needs to be something that operates relative to the value of properties right across the country,” he said.
Former Chancellor Alastair Darling has suggested that people could undervalue their homes to avoid the tax.
