Owen Jones meets Ed Miliband | 'The Tories don't know what kind of Brexit they want'

[@GavinHitchens]

It's a genuine shame Ed didn't become PM. He's one of only a few politicians that I can be in disagreement with but still believe wants the best for the UK

[@GraveArchitect94]

Ed's a good kid

[@jimmymyers8753]

William Guppy First Visit , Israel !!

[@JAMAICADOCK]

Good guys don't win in politics I'm afraid

[@ScoobGruber]

Such a good kid... I wonder if he twisted the knife in his brothers back?

[@24yrukdesigner]

He is a sick, sick man... Openly admitting he'd do everything possible to have prevented UK from having a voice, denied the people the rights to a referendum, simultaneously calling those who disagree with HIS choice fascists........ lol Couldn't make that up... ^^

[@anonomousous]

The Ed Miller Band are my favorite folk group.

[@benjamineckford1718]

Ed Miliband looks relaxed, human, thoughtful here. Why couldn't he have been like this as leader?

[@Thamyris13]

Benjamin Eckford seems like a good bloke but he spent years buckling under the pressure. I'm sure he a much happier person now.

[@fuzzylogiceire]

Benjamin Eckford He came across well in the interviews before the election too.

[@benjamineckford1718]

Thamyris Vision yeah probably

[@Colin90s]

I was watching thinking the exact same thing. Anytime I saw him on TV he tended to come across as out of touch, dishonest, and devoid of likable human traits. Almost like I was watching a completely different guy here.

[@SodaIceberg]

Stress

[@GarethWareth]

Still like Ed Miliband. Was never a leader but a good person. Not the best, but a good man. Nothing to dislike. Not extreme enough for me. But he still speaks sense.

[@richardtaylor4362]

Gareth Wareth That sandwich eating was classic extremism!!!

[@GarethWareth]

Richard Taylor yeah true hahaha ffs our media

[@MrHFarm]

I still think it's sad that we missed probably the best chance to get an intelligent and fundamentally decent human being as a prime minister. Clearly that wasn't really what people wanted from a leader and it's unlikely that another will be offered anytime soon but sad all the same. Regarding the sandwich I have it on good authority that it wasn't a one off and that he is just a generally weird eater.

[@spiritlevel6901]

+Harry Farmer, I like ed, even voted for labour in the last election, but an austerity light way of approaching our broken economy was never going to be a vote winner. Glad to see he backs Corbyn though.

[@MrHFarm]

I think he wanted to do more but was held back by the right. Can't back Corbyn though, some good ideas on the economy but appalling leadership that is dragging the party down. I thin Ed and most other MPs have now decided that it's better to let him take responsibility for disaster that looks certain to occur at the next election and rebuild from there.

[@robertsnelling]

Ed Milibrand is an eloquent, personable man and an intelligent debater. He has much to offer and contribute to the UK's moribund political life. It was a lively discussion and obviously a stimulating chat for both of you. Lots of food for thought. Keep up the great work both of you!

[@goawayimsleeping509]

Ed should run for leadership again, who's with me

[@fryliver4953]

God damn. We fucked up falling for the Murdoch character assassination. Ed was a good man.

[@BenWillock]

"He deserves the chance to succeed, he's won the leadership election not once but twice, that's why I'm supporting him" If only the rest of the PLP felt the same way, Ed.

[@rowdog28]

I keep thinking how much Ed reminds me of Ginger from Chicken Run...

[@venerablesimpatico2817]

That's what lost him the election. Well that and the sandwich thing.

[@fbspin]

oh my god that's exactly it!

[@mr__daly]

I had to Google Ginger from Chicken Run.... hahahaha Now that i know who Ginger is, it's hilarious. Thanks.

[@primuspilus44]

rowdog28 thank you so much for saying that, I've thought he looked familiar for the last 4 years but have never been able to put my finger on it

[@rowdog28]

Alessandro Simone happy to have enlightened you 😊

[@jackmurphy8053]

Possibly the greatest PM we never had.

[@JoelCornah]

Would take Ed's weird, awkward hijinks over what we have now. :(

[@yorkshireplumbing]

Wow, haha... Jesus... what a thought. How pathetic.

[@Hadrianus01]

Are you joking? I can't tell if you're being serious or not lol

[@jackmurphy8053]

aortablue yeah I'm serious. I think he would've been great. Public investment, crackdown on tax avoidance, elected senate to replace lords and a reduction in tuition fees. As far as I'm concerned he's a real conviction politician and I admire him immensely .

[@geniusofmozart]

Jack Murphy Very much agreed. Outlets like the Financial Times and the Economist should be ashamed that they backed the coalition instead of Miliband's Labour, which is essentially backing the Conservatives - when they knew the risk of an EU referendum (which both are now angry about) and when particularly the Financial Times knew that austerity had no basis in economics.

[@JoelCornah]

Like living in the Miliverse for 16 minutes, thanks Owen.

[@everything_is_fine90]

Ed comes off really relaxed, confident, knowledgeable and certain in his opinions. Shame he wasn't in the same mind set, as leader. Brilliant interview, you should take due credit Owen, you set the tone and pace so Ed could do his thing.

[@Jaxymann]

Damn, Mililband hit the nail on the head with Brexit.

[@danielbentham758]

That sort of thinking is exactly why the labour party got destroyed in 2019

[@aperson22222]

"The Tories don't know what kind of Brexit they want"? My, what a profoundly insightful observation.

[@sewaolukoga8376]

I don't care- I love Ed Milliband. He was a average leader but you cannot deny his passion for the British people. I have never considered him as an elitist; he genuinely recognises the problem the British people have with the Establishment

[@Swolotheoneandonlyswolo]

Miliband was so animated the camera couldn't keep him in focus.

[@matthewcswhite]

Swolo *adam ;)

[@AdamSich]

He did move around a fair old bit. Did my best to keep up.

[@matthewcswhite]

Adam Sich Hey Adam do you work for Owen or The Guardian? And are you a one man band? Do you edit them as well as film? I'd love to do the sort of work you do! Keep up it up!

[@AdamSich]

Hi Matthew, I work for the Guardian running all of their KZbin channels but primarily work with Owen. Yeah, I edit and film them. With the interviews I usually have someone with me on second camera, occasionally I have to do them both. It's a lot of fun! Especially when we get to go out and film the longer videos.

[@dylan-5173]

In hindsight, I think Ed would've been a smashing PM!

[@selfinflictedyukon]

Great interview! Love how relaxed and free ranging these chats are. Strong message at the end.... It is true that out of our darkest times have come our greatest successes, achievements, leaps forward as a society. We just have to make it thru these darkest of times.

[@sithius99]

17,410,742 voted to leave Ed, but 16,141,241 voted to remain. Hardly a landslide, is it?

[@Thamyris13]

sithius99 it is when you acknowledge that that's a majority of 1,300,000.

[@AFreeThinker999]

but not when you realise its a majority of 4%.

[@Thamyris13]

Ben Meh either way its a clear victory. But you are right.

[@Liofa73]

Ben ... And only half the country voted... Alright, kids weren't allowed and a lot of old people in care homes probably didn't bother... But had another 5-8 million got out to vote the result might have swung the other way...

[@Liofa73]

If you'd have read my comment throughly, you would have seen that I wrote "might". Not such a ridiculous argument after all.

[@T800System]

Ed Miliband is a good bloke. His analysis of what was/is going wrong is broadly correct; he would have taken us more or less in the right direction (perhaps not as forcibly as I would have liked) - but crucially the british public saw him as weak, he didn't effectively refute the lie that Labour overspending caused the financial crisis, he was seen as too close to the blair/brown governments that produced him and Labour didn't offer a referendum on the EU. This is why he failed.

[@andrewwatson4244]

Politician was right and wasn't voted into power, great job voters!

[@Swolotheoneandonlyswolo]

Really interesting interview - Thanks so much Owen!

[@yabyum108]

now he's out of the spin-vortex of leadership, EM's intelligence shines through

[@grahamsouthern5583]

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

[@jamesharris4687]

Ed is so relaxed and articulate here- seems totally different and more real than when he was labour head.

[@InstallaFriend]

'How do you think the government is dealing with Brexit' 'I believe the government have behaved in a reckless and provocative manner, at a time when negotiations are still going on...'

[@grahamsouthern5583]

@whyemceeay LOL. Nothing better than that in all his political career? Says it all, doesn't it?

[@zayn2476]

I really do love his enthusiasm and optimism, to be knocked down so badly and know you were right all along and still get up and be heard takes huge courage. His insights are great, just wish he was more like this prior to 2015. I can't help but imagine what the state of the UK would be had he won, his 2015 campaign did bring hope, something you won't be feeling from any party any time soon.

[@helterskelter792]

God bless Edward Miliband, first of his name.

[@OwenJonesTalks]

The subtitles are available now.

[@twistaumhc91]

Do Blair. That would be great.

[@IanCullen]

Nice one with the subtitles. As far as Miliband. Kind of miss the guy. As far as the Left. I'm starting to wonder if Corbyn is a place holder in order to pull Labour more to the left in much the same was as Kinnock kind of pulled it more to the centre back in the 80s in order to create a space for Blair. Either way given how extreme the Right has been with its messages on building walls and such. It makes me wonder if the Left needs to pull much further left than it is right now. Because it seems a majority of voters that went for Brexit and Trump went the option that they thought was going to create the most change and sort of thumbed what they view as the establishment in the eye. I personally think that immigration needs to really be looked at in terms of a cap on how many people we allow in. Certainly until we have a better grip on our borders and the economy. I also think NHS needs to be looked at. But more importantly social care. I mean if we looked at social care a little better. Perhaps we'd get a better grip on things such as Mental Illness. I voted for remain. But a few mates of mine voted to leave. One of which voted because he felt the EU had to much control over our laws. So with him it wasn't about immigration. He also runs a small business as well. Which probably gives you an idea of what some of his issues would be. I've also heard some stuff that Momentum who backed Corbyn's campaign have been maybe looking at forming their own political party so that there is another option on the left. So as a regular viewer of your channel. But not much of a commenter as such. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on a new left leaning political party. My thought is. The current Labour Party is missing lots and lots of open goals that the Tories are leaving in their wake. And on top of that we have a Lib Dem party that is no where near as strong as it once was as a third option. To quote the old proverb. We are truly now living in interesting times.

[@Xanias00]

Hey Owen, how do you feel about the Investigatory Powers Bill?

[@paulyoung4649]

Olly Longworth anjem choudary would be a good one.

[@wilneliaadams5963]

Owen, can I just say that I love how you're so obviously sampling a Bob Marley track with your background music? :D

[@Firespectrum122]

As a member of the Conservative party, Ed Milliband and Jeremy Corbyn have my sincere gratitude. We couldn't have got back into power without them.

[@jawadc97]

God only knows how much I would give for Milliband to be our PM at the last General Election.

[@animovie1]

Should have voted for this guy back in 2015 and none of this would have happened

[@FreorgeWeasley]

God damn, he should have campaigned more like this

[@weswheel4834]

"Take Back Control", "We Want Our Country Back" and "Make America Great Again" could have been centre-left slogans. They're fairly meaningless. The right are just better at selling the slogans. Good interview, thanks. Thanks to Ed as well.

[@jackfisher4183]

Miliband is an interesting guy...

[@rp1455]

I never hugely liked Ed but God Almighty would he have been better than the complete car crash of a Tory government we have now. He has also shown a lot of foresight and good analysis in this video. He has partly won me back.

[@09jamieboro]

I miss ed :( Used to love it when the speaker bellowed 'Edddd milliiiibandddd !!!!'

[@Iazzaboyce]

I analyse it this way: the people of the UK voted to leave the EU, because they did not want to be in the EU. Does this mean the previous eight prime ministers have taken the UK to a destination its people never wanted to go to? ... Yes, it means precisely that.

[@doctor_gibbo1392]

I'd completely forgotten this guy exists

[@abdallagurashi9566]

Really good, like these serious informal interviews 👍

[@1258-Eckhart]

Well, plaudits to Miliband for supporting Corbyn, an honourable stance. That still doesn't banish the (deep) despondency however, because Corbyn is Old Labour with Central Bank rather than Rich People funding. Sorry, no effective difference.

[@barnabus06]

Good interview, hearing Miliband is curiously heartening. It is a little strange to read some of the unpleasant and personal comments here, which look as though the commentators have accidentally strayed in from the corporate press. Interesting too the reference to Theresa May's opening speech. Miliband is too optimistic on this: don't forget Thatcher, a partisan and divisive a leader if ever there was one, quoting the prayer of St Francis

[@GCarruthers]

I love how people need subtitles for this. Is it the accent, or the speed at which they talk? As an English speaking South African I understand it just fine!

[@_mothpope_]

Lot of respect for Ed after this- if only he'd had this composure and sense in 2015

[@Pistachios42]

I don't know if he was even trying to, but I feel much more optimistic about the future after watching this. Thank you Ed and Owen!

[@DG_Avis]

Miliband never spoke like this in the lead up to the 2015 election. It's as though he tried to pick his words so carefully out of fear of the media's scrutiny, he just came across as awkward and clumsy. Here he seems much more confident and articulate.

[@sgordon8123]

Ed you should have stayed as leader. Come back again.

[@viviennesoan1]

Thank you it is such a relief to hear intelligent people talking and not playing media , political games . All power to you and your quest Owen

[@oldskool4572]

He's absolutely spot on about the fact that the vast majority of people who voted for Brexit or Trump are not racist.

[@ryano5019]

I like politicians who aren't running for office, they always talk a lot more frankly and honestly

[@oddyseus99]

A decent man of principle but in the job at the wrong time. He seems to have garnered more respect since leaving office that he could ever have dreamt of in office. Excellent interview Owen.

[@rigsby1454]

Good interview this. Miliband came across and has come across in this last year a lot more relaxed and interesting than he did as leader.

[@planetyes]

Ed is a politician in the truest sense of the word. He lives and breathes true Labour.

[@Aaronage1]

Ed comes across very honest and down to earth here. It's at odds with my perception of him during the general election campaign.

[@hugopetrus34]

Much more thoughtful than I had expected and I must say it is interesting to see the spread of interviewees that Owen is contacting.

[@yeetboi9817]

Absolutely sound and fair minded bloke.

[@jethrodykes4853]

all intellectuals eat their food in an untidy manner - this is a sign of great strength of character - ed miliband is very great

[@billyjackson578]

I'm surprised Owen didn't edit out Ed's reminder that half of the UK and half of the US aren't racist.

[@JwayT]

Good interview, i would never vote for milipede, but I like hearing what he has to say and he's a funny guy. Farage next?

[@curtismorgan5055]

Labour needs to be bigger and bolder in order to have a chance of winning. If Labour, under Jeremy, go into the election as simply 'doing a better job than a Tory government'; they will be destroyed. Labour need to offer big hitting policies such as scrapping of University fees, Universal Basic Income etc.

[@BeaniethemanMixes]

Honestly it's baffling how down to earth and grounded ed comes across in this interview when during his entire election all he ever did was alienate people and come off as completely out of touch. Maybe it was just pr or stress or something. Great video anyway

[@Lennon6412]

So he was basically right about everything

[@retcon1991]

If this channel is about debate, some more interviews with the Right would be nice.

[@MGustave]

bassben04 It would be, but one presumes Mr Jones feels the left needs to set its own house in order first.

[@GiullarediDio]

You mean like Hannan, Carswell, Oborne, Peter Hitchens?

[@AdamSich]

We are trying to get a few more with Tories/right-leaning people. might have to wait until early next year but there will be more.

[@loladoesntlikecola]

Anna Soubry would be an interesting interview.

[@tris421]

please interview Milo Y.

[@bellrobert1978]

He's right or should i say correct i don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. You only have to look around the world to see there is no appetite for centrist politics. Corbyn might not be the correct choice but the direction of his politics definitely is.

[@daviddouglas5581]

I am very surprised how fair and real he comes across in this. He seems to really understand that people are sick of the left and politics in general.

[@AdamJX602]

Ed Miliband is ageing very well... what a dreamboat!

[@thebopper6335]

Thanks Owen!!

[@thekidd7]

All the comments say he's such a good lad... I seem to remember him opportunistically entering the leadership race after saying he wouldn't, in a calculated way to undercut his BIG BROTHER. That's why I wouldn't vote for him. Right now he could be the Chancellor to David's Prime Minister and maybe PM in the fullness of time. He's as opportunistic as every other politician.

[@JAMAICADOCK]

This is what makes me laugh about the center/ right of the Labour Party - on issues like immigration, welfare, trident - we are told ad-infinitum that such policies are unpopular with traditional working class voters. The inference being working class voters will go to UKIP if Corbyn goes too Left. But meanwhile the unpopularity of the EU amongst working-class voters doesn't seem to matter. Losing votes to UKIP isn't so important when it comes to the EU. And I get the feeling it will be this issue that loses it for Corbyn - far more than his Left-wing policies. UKIP will sell themselves as the only Party truly committed to Brexit, appealing to angry voters who feel cheated by the foot-dragging over Article 50. The irony being, Corbyn is more passionate now about the EU - than he ever was during the Remain Campaign. Which I think is all down to Party unity and has nothing to do with Corbyn's true position on Brexit

[@j-wizzy]

Dude you predicted the future

[@ConsumerWatchdogUK]

Talked a lot of sense, agree with most of what he said.

[@LucasBakerJay]

Part of me feels like Ed Miliband could actually do quite well as Labour leader right now

[@BENTWOONEZERO]

Corbyn as set the bar fairly low.

[@nickjones9867]

BEN TWOONEZERO lol

[@katy3901]

I think it's highly likely he'll be shadow chancellor if Starmer wins.

[@TonyFisherPuzzles]

We know exactly what Brexit we want and always have. So too have the Brexit voters. It's only the remoaners who made out they didn't know to cause disruption and obviously Theresa didn't want to show her hand. Now she is repeatedly forced to which damages our position each time.

[@zeddeka]

In referendums, millions of people vote for millions of different reasons. There is no 'we' wanting one uniform thing, and it's very disingenuous to suggest so. As we've seen in the years since, what was promised during the Brexit referendum has proved to be completely wide of the mark.

[@foolilu]

I think he'd have been good. I like that he is willing to own his mistakes. After initially supporting Owen Smith in the leadership contest, his apparent support for Jeremy, I find heartening.

[@chairwood44]

can someone please link me something racist that Trump has said

[@295Rob]

you know what google is right?

[@chairwood44]

Robert Stark Thats the problem with people, they hear stuff in the media and just follow the narrative without doing their own research, thats why no one can directly link me something racists he has said

[@295Rob]

chairwood44 then follow your own advice and go do some first hand research

[@M941CheeseMan]

OP got absolutely destroyed here XD!!!

[@chairwood44]

Rae Elite maybe the fist one might be racist or is that being stereotypical?

[@666j1]

this is wrong at a time when negotiations are still going on. My household has acted in a reckless and provocative manner. I urge all family members to get around the dinner table, put aside the rhetoric, and stop this confusion happening again

[@Ross.Patterson]

So frustrating that Ed Miliband couldn't have acted as naturally and likable when he was a politician

[@sosaq3841]

The way Owen kept moving tells me Ed's breath must have been a little bit disturbing LOOOOL probably the bacon sandwich lol

[@glitchwalker5422]

I liked Ed Miliband. I'd really like to see him part of the shadow cabinet... I did feel a sincerity from him. Just it was wrapped up in that New Labour, try-to-be-marketable packaging. I have found his comments since leaving the leadership far more agreeable.

[@deathbyclownage]

Greatest Prime Minister we never had

[@secretmission7607]

Real shame the way Ed M was perceived as he's one of the good guys...

[@MihaiViteazul100]

"We're in the biggest crisis since 1945." Uh...What about the 70's? Shortages, rationing, strike after strike, nothing getting done?

[@sv-bd5em]

seems like a nice enough guy if it wasn't for the public shaming of jc. however i can't help myself from sort of blaming him and clegg for not being convincing enough to at least prevent tories from getting a majority in 2015.

[@donaldderp1602]

That was the whole point, the 1% pull the strings to maintain power, controlled opposition. Clegg and Miliband are multi-millionaires of the establishment, they just do as they're told for money. No way on earth are they on the side of the people.

[@Jide-mx3wm]

+Cory Tant I don't know man I don't think he would have been as heartless as Cameron and Osborne and on the whole the game changers and leaders of thought of human history have always been from privileged backgrounds. They are the only ones that have the flexibility money gives to allow you time to think. Even Lenin was well to do . Didn't stop him from committing class suicide and igniting a revolution.

[@jds3816]

It was because of scaremongering... not his policies, the conservatives are incredibly good at scaring people to vote for them. The fear of having a coalition government with the SNP coupled with the fear they created of Labour being in charge of the economy. Now we have a conservative government privatising everything, it is worse than the Thatcher era.....

[@Chidds]

I think it is really sad that people are still looking at Brexit as something awful, as opposed to a great opportunity. The previous way of doing things clearly wasn't working for a vast number of people (at least this is finally being recognised now). I'm just waiting for those who consider Brexit as awful to recognise that their lost utopia wasn't a utopia for a lot of people.

[@MrHFarm]

Can you enlighten us to the nature of this opportunity in a way that actually present realistic outcomes and not pie in the sky dream of a return to the day of empire when we ruled the wave and enforced our trade agreements with the cannon of our gunboats?

[@Chidds]

Harry Farmer For one, it enables Britain to forge a future free from the bureaucracy of the EU. For example, we will be able to agree trade deals in a matter of years, even months, as opposed deals a decade or longer to be agreed upon. Britain will be able to decide what parts of EU law are necessary for her, and what is unnecessary; doing more harm than good.

[@Chidds]

Ted Thomas What Britain has supported in the past in irrelevant. I was referring to the future, not the past. The fact that you seem incapable of distinguishing the difference says a lot about your approach.

[@TedThomasTT]

First of all you say previous way of doing things wasn't working. Now you're saying the past is irrelevant. Brexit logic is always fun.

[@Chidds]

Ted Thomas Exactly. It is irrelevant, because it wasn't working. The future needs to have a new approach. The old ways require changing. Reasonable people recognise this. It appears you are struggling with being reasonable. Shame.

[@fretplec5326]

I lIke Ed he has intelligence and honesty. Life's a C thing and totally unfair. But we must not give up. May and co have screwed us as usual. We need to support JC to get Labour elected and some fairness back in society.

[@PatrickSpelman]

You see here how good he was without the constant barrage of abuse the press out against him.

[@pavanbhatia389]

Finally he's supporting Jeremy Corbyn. About time.

[@robertcampbell661]

Stopped watching ''Britain's in the greatest crisis since 45'' how have you come to that conclusion ? What a completely misguided opening statement.

[@joeford4597]

Hi Owen, Ed (and others in the Lab party) seem to be skirting around the question of immigration by only citing economic factors; surely the cultural and identity narratives around immigration and race need to be recognized and then properly contested if we are to avoid rise of extreme Right which thrives on the fact that these narratives go unchallenged. Surely what we learned from Brexit and from Trump is that many people don't care for the economic factors?

[@chairwood44]

The amount of people that do not understand the banking system is scary. The worlds monetary policy is to blame for everything and we need a referendum on our monetary policy.

[@Isleofskye]

Apparently Ed comes over well in this and good luck to him. However on behalf of Tories everywhere I thank him for being him as I would have lost every penny betting on David winning The Labour leadership which would have meant, in my opinion, that Labour would have won that election. Even I would have considered voting for him but to choose Ed instead was like The Lib Dems choosing 200 year old Menzies Campbell. Utter stupidity. Didn't they want to win ? I did NOT realise it was The Unions that decided and I would have lost my bet, accordingly.

[@AstralFrost]

Good man, that Ed Miliband. He should have been Prime Minister. And what he said about Jeremy was meant.

[@SprachLangue]

Very ironic. You said you won't be dwelling on the past and the first question is on the previous election. Well done.

[@dystopia47]

Hes talking more sense than he ever did as leader.

[@michellekirrane4566]

Naïve of me clearly but is anyone else a little surprised that he was consulted for Mrs May's speech? :-s

[@captainbirdzeye4371]

Mark Carney is not a politician,he's an economist.

[@drdrght]

I'm a conservative but have respect for Ed Miliband. He is obviously a smart guy unlike Owen.

[@bilbobaggins5752]

We missed a great opportunity in Miliband with Stugeon as deputy. Too bad he sounds and looks like a nerd, which I've heard is toxic to most people.

[@ImmaterialDigression]

THe point is Labour can make the argument for a second referendum on the actual deal (this makes an incredible amount of sense) and also to still fight the argument the country is better off in the UK. There is nothing wrong with saying this country is better off in the EU because lets face it, it fucking well is better off in the EU.

[@richardtaylor4362]

ImmaterialDigression because leave hurt your feelings?

[@ImmaterialDigression]

Yeah sure 48% of people voted to remain in the EU because otherwise their feelings would be hurt. Nice one Richard. In fact that was the whole remain campaign. It's a fairly stupid question it's like saying oh are you going to fight against privatisation of the NHS because it hurts your feelings? Consider me scuppered by your intelligently put argument.

[@richardtaylor4362]

ImmaterialDigression I baited you a little with five words and now you are all triggered, you claim to be intelligent but is because it is a good enough reason? "There is nothing wrong with saying this country is better off in the EU because lets face it, it fucking well is better off in the EU" Also you contradictorily said the uk is better off in the uk , yes that is one thing I agree with you on. "also to still fight the argument the country is better off in the UK"

[@ImmaterialDigression]

Yes darling I'm triggered. Woe is me. Don't know where I claimed I was intelligent Richard. That's a funny one.

[@Jide-mx3wm]

Tell that to the crazy Brexiters.

[@robgreen1818]

Ed would have made a sensible and reasonable PM. It’s a pity things worked out how they did.

[@jeffriley8840]

I was going to leave a comment via the Facebook link but I despaired because the 9 or so comments on there were so cretinous it felt like I would be joining a terrible conversation. Owen I'm amazed you can keep calm in the face of such idiocy by people supposedly on the same side. Anyway to this conversation. I've always thought Ed Miliband a thoughtful, decent man and never bought this crap about his lack of charisma. I thought he was left off the hook a little bit in your interview about Labour's period of opposition. Sure they would have been heaps better than the Tories or the coalition but there was no clarity about how they positioned themselves as 'austerity lite' - wasn't Ed Balls' inspiring call 'too deep, too fast'? The second point when you asked him about Corbyn. He said something along the lines of, "he has to be given a chance". To my mind this reflects where a lot of the PLP are at the moment - no outright attacks but not a lot of support. It's almost as if they are going to stand back, keep their own profile high but not present a united front as the Labour Party. I would have preferred it if Ed had said 'we can win'. Senior figures like Ed Miliband can make a big difference to the kind of polling and result Labour can achieve. I thought what he said about Brexit was very interesting - I have struggled with Labour's response and part of me wants them to confound Brexit but I can see that the approach Ed was suggesting here - accepting that it's going to happen and fighting for the progressive common ground - makes sense. Thanks for your work.

[@Volcanic47]

The only way Ed MIlliband can give us hope and cheer is if he stars in the live version of Wallace and Grommet.