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How Has Ed Miliband Fared As Labour Leader? Baroness Warsi, Brendan Barber, Tom Watson And Others Give Their Verdict

Huffington Post UK   Dina Rickman   First Posted: 23/09/11 23:31 BST   Updated: 23/11/11 10:12 GMT

The start of the Labour conference on Sunday will mark Ed Miliband's anniversary as leader.

The Huffington Post UK asked TUC head Brendan Barber, Labour backbenchers Tom Watson and Bill Esterson, Conservative party chairwoman Baroness Warsi, and Labourlist editor Mark Ferguson how they think he's done in his first year.

See their comments in the slideshow below.

Baroness Warsi: The Tragedy Of Ed Miliband
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"One year on from his election as Labour Leader, and Ed Miliband has failed to convince anyone.

"The tragedy of Ed Miliband is that having backstabbed his brother to win the Labour leadership, he realised he didn't have any ideas on what to do if won.

"Twelve months later, and he's still struggling to convince voters that he has anything to offer the country. On this anniversary, most people will simply be wondering: what on earth does Ed Miliband actually stand for?

"As the weak leader of a divided party, he's constantly drawn disparagement from his own side. Peter Mandelson has criticised him for relying on union money. Tony Blair warned that Labour was moving too far away from the centre ground.

"And what's more, he is still drawing a blank on policy, opposing almost every single coalition policy without viable alternatives.

"He's done little to persuade voters that he's anything but firmly in the pocket of the trade unions. After promising a new generation of politics, Ed appointed three leading trade unionists as business advisers, and he's still tied to the union paymasters that fund his party.

"No plan for economy; in hock to the unions; and with his own side in disarray, this has not been a strong start to Ed Miliband's leadership. The big question now: can he step up to the plate next year?"
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The start of the Labour conference on Sunday will mark Ed Miliband's anniversary as leader. The Huffington Post UK asked TUC head Brendan Barber, Labour backbenchers Tom Watson and Bill Esterson, ...
The start of the Labour conference on Sunday will mark Ed Miliband's anniversary as leader. The Huffington Post UK asked TUC head Brendan Barber, Labour backbenchers Tom Watson and Bill Esterson, ...
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ryankett
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07:36 AM on 09/25/2011
I would much more inclined to vote for Labour in the next election if Ed Balls isn't around, there is still time for a shadow cabinet reshuffle of course.
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Joey5aliveis
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01:07 PM on 09/24/2011
Tories should not be so complacent. Ed Miliband is probably a nice guy but just an ordinary politician, which is a shame for Labour. The tories of course recognise this fact and know Ed is no threat to them but beware, they've nailed their colours to the mast for a 2015 election and that is an eternity in politics. If Labour get their act together any time in the next 4 years the tories could be vulnerable. A weak labour leadership has made them complacent. If people begin to realise that their spin on things like the economy about it all being the fault of the situation abroad is exactly the same as the much loathed Gordon Brown, it can all unravel faster than you think.
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DaveJohnWard
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06:39 AM on 09/24/2011
So that's two Labour leaders who should have paid attention to the 'be careful what you wish for' doctrine.
Given the current state of pretty much everything, Labour should be wiping the floor with the current Government, even though most of the problems aren't their own fault. Whilst I have no time for Tony Blair or his politics, can you imagine what he would be doing to David Cameron at this time?
Ed was a dead duck from the moment he won through the Union block votes, and is now laying on his back with his webbed feet in the air.
Next!
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Derek Lantin
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09:21 AM on 09/25/2011
Dead ducks can still fly, - until they quack up.
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