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Five Blarites Who Hate Ed Miliband's Leadership... And 5 Who Don't

At Least These 5 Blarites Still Like Miliband (But These Other 5 Don't)
Asa Bennett
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Leader of the Labour party Ed Miliband (L), and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) speak before Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Westminster Hall to address both Houses of Parliament on March 20, 2012 in London, England. Following the address to party leaders, MP's, peers and dignitaries from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, a specially commissioned Diamond Jubilee stained glass window, a gift from the m
Dan Kitwood via Getty Images

Two former Labour ministers have accused Ed Miliband of giving the Tories a "needless advantage" by not doing enough to defend the last Labour government's economic record.

John Hutton and Alan Milburn, former ministers under Tony Blair, aimed their broadside at the Labour leader in an article for the Financial Times, writing: “If Labour is to win in May, the two Eds need to set the record straight and reclaim ground foolishly bequeathed to their opponents.”

John Prescott, Blair's former deputy prime minister, responded to Milburn and Hutton on Twitter by describing them as "Tory collaborators”.

The spat underlines the divisions between Blair's former colleagues about whether to support Miliband's leadership, or not. Here are five Blairites who can't hide their scepticism, and five who have thrown their weight behind him.

Blairites Critics And Supporters Of Ed Miliband
Supporter: Tessa Jowell(01 of06)
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Jowell, formerly culture secretary under Blair, told HuffPostUK's Mehdi Hasan that Miliband is "very funny, incredibly warm, very empathetic".
Critic: Alan Milburn(02 of06)
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Blair's former health secretary recently laid into Miliband for not being pro-business enough, warning: "The Eds need to say it and look like they really mean it."
Critic: John Reid(03 of06)
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Lord Reid, Blair's former home secretary, warned last year that Miliband's Labour should stop being a "voice of protest" and offer "solutions".
Supporter: Andrew Adonis(04 of06)
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Lord Adonis, formerly an advisor in Blair's No 10 Policy Unit, has been working on his "growth review" for Ed Miliband.
Critic: John Rentoul(05 of06)
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Blair's biographer John Rentoul has previously said that Miliband "has to go" if Labour is to win.
Supporter: John McTernan(06 of06)
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McTernan, former head of political strategy for Blair, has praised Miliband for his "steel' and remarked that he was emerging as the "true heir to Blair". He now works for Jim Murphy, Labour's leader in Scotland.
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