poliphilo

Own goal? Possibly. I understand the social media are awash with scans of Viscount Rothermere's article "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" and the photograph of him and Hitler dividing up the world between them. You dig up our dead and we'll dig up yours.

The Mail was counting on its readers having a visceral reaction to the words "communist" and "Marxist" and "socialist" but Britain isn't the USA (and never was) and the Cold War has been over for a generation.

Did Ralph Miliband hate Britain? No, of course he didn't. He made his home here and enjoyed a successful and honoured career and (a little hypocrisy here, perhaps?) put his kids through Oxford. He was exasperated by aspects of our society and wanted to see change. Who doesn't? If the system were perfect why would anyone- left or right- ever bother to get involved in politics?

Ed Miliband will probably be our next Prime Minister. The real issue isn't who his father was but whether he himself is up to the job. I must say he's doesn't look it, but who knows? Meanwhile The Mail has handed him the role of pious son rising up to vindicate the honour of his father and he's hoping to shine.