Trump loathes Miliband’s net zero obsession, can’t stand wind turbines and thinks banning new North Sea drilling is economic vandalism. Last year he called the North Sea a “treasure chest” and urged Britain to “Incentivize the drillers, FAST”. Miliband, naturally, ignored him. That’s hardly surprising. Miliband never listens to anybody.
The problem is, Burnham owes Miliband. He helped clear his path to Number 10, so he’ll expect one of the biggest jobs in government. Incredibly, plenty in Labour think he’d make a brilliant chancellor. In reality, they haven’t got a clue about finance, and neither does he. They don’t understand that to spend money, you have to earn it first.
It’s not just critics on the right sounding the alarm. Green energy tycoon Dale Vince has just branded Miliband unfit to become chancellor. Vince has questioned Miliband’s fundamental “economic competence” and even his grasp of “the basic notion of value for money” as he sprays taxpayer’s hard-earned money at his pet projects. And this is the man Burnham wants to run the nation’s money.
Washington can sense disaster too. Senior officials in Trump’s administration are urgently warning that making Miliband chancellor would be a huge mistake, according to The Times. They believe his ban on new North Sea licences is “ideologically driven” and argue the extra tax revenues could help fund Britain’s defence. On that, they’re absolutely right.
That means keeping Ed Miliband well away from Number 11, where he’d wreak havoc. Perhaps he could make him US ambassador instead. The Yanks would know exactly what to do with him.
