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6 Books Ed Miliband Should Read On Holiday

6 Books Ed Miliband Should Read On Holiday
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Politics news editor, HuffPost UK

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One of Ed Miliband's former advisers, Lord Glasman, has criticised the Labour leader for not being able to tell a story to voters about how he would change the country for the better. Writing in the Financial Times, the peer suggested Miliband was too academic and wonkish in his approach to politics.

"I suggest Mr Miliband takes a couple of novels rather than think-tank reports as his summer reading. He needs to tell a story in his speech to the party conference, not about himself, but about the country he wishes to lead to a place where we can make things better," he said.

With that in mind, here are six reads Miliband could pack in his suitcase for his summer holiday this year.

6 Books For Ed Miliband
Hamlet by William Shakespeare(01 of06)
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Claudius killed his own brother to secure the Danish throne. Enough said.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding(02 of06)
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The novel tells the story of a group of British boys stranded on an island whose attempt at forming a system of government goes horribly wrong. Given the number of Labour MPs that have been sounding off about his leadership in recent days, Miliband might want to institute the boy's conch system.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald(03 of06)
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Of the seven lessons from the Great American Novel compiled by HuffPost here, Miliband might want to remember number four, that it's not easy to leave your past behind you. "As the tragic conclusion and poetic closing lines to Fitzgerald's book tell us, the past can be a messy thing to escape. As hard as Gatsby tries to shirk off his reputation as a bootlegger, he's unable to do so."
House of Cards by Michael Dobbs(04 of06)
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An obvious if necessary holiday novel for the leader of the Opposition. Miliband could take some hints from Francis Urquhart about how to navigate the power games of Westminster.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins(05 of06)
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The Hunger Games tells the story of a group of children forced to fight to the death. Members of Miliband's shadow cabinet keep saying unhelpful things to journalists so he might pick up some tips about how to knock them out of the game if need be. For example, dropping a hive full of genetically engineered bees on them.
Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab(06 of06)
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Miliband is also having some trouble with the press, which some in his inner circle believe are determined to prevent him from becoming prime minister at any cost. Bravo Two Zero: The true story of a Labour leader behind enemy lines (in this case the political press is the Iraqi Republican Guard).
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