BLACK DOG: Take note from the master, Ed. Labour leader seems to have ignored Dennis Skinner's advice about keeping speeches to under 15 minutes

By BLACK DOG FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

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Veteran Labour firebrand Dennis Skinner reveals in his new memoirs that he was the person who persuaded Ed Miliband to make speeches without notes.

Skinner is famed for his ability to whip up a car park full of strikers into a frenzy at the drop of a miner’s helmet. 

Red Ed thought he could do the same, but fatally, he ignored the most important part of Skinner’s advice: never try it for anything longer than 15 minutes. Miliband’s conference speech lasted 66 minutes. It felt like 66 years.

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Veteran Labour firebrand Dennis Skinner reveals in his new memoirs that he was the person who persuaded Ed Miliband to make speeches without notes
Miliband seems to have ignored Skinner’s advice of never speaking longer than 15 minutes

Veteran Labour firebrand Dennis Skinner (left) reveals in his new memoirs that he was the person who persuaded Ed Miliband to make speeches without notes

 

While Harriet Harman was launching her conference attack on Nigel Farage – much to the delight of her husband Jack Dromey – the couple’s son Harry was actually promoting the Ukip leader. 

Harry Dromey, who is employed by betting firm Paddy Power, was busy finishing off the bookmaker’s Ryder Cup promotional stunt – a video featuring golf-loving Farage for once declaring his ‘love’ for Europe and urging on the European team against the United States at Gleneagles. 

 

Labour frontbenchers channelled their frustration over Miliband’s speech into vigorous dancefloor moves at a party on the Coronation Street set in Manchester. 

Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint high-kicked to Zorba the Greek at a party on the Coronation Street set

Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint high-kicked to Zorba the Greek at a party on the Coronation Street set

The star jiver of the night was Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint, who folded her arms and high-kicked to Zorba the Greek in front of her clapping admirers. One disloyal Labour MP shouted: ‘Bring on Ed Miliband – he’s Zorba the Geek!’

 

Ed Balls was desperate to put one over on his Labour leadership rival Andy Burnham when they played a racetrack video game at a conference stand. 

‘Have I beaten Burnham?’ yelled Balls. He had – by nine seconds – but only after persuading the game organisers to let him have three attempts. Not that he admitted that to his opponent.

 

Glamorous frontbencher Liz Kendall was overheard revealing that at the ripe old age of 43, ‘I’ve finally had my ears pierced’. Her innocent confession was taken as rock-solid proof of leadership manoeuvrings by catty Labour colleagues. ‘A flashy set of earrings is de rigueur for any would-be woman leader,’ sniped one.

 

Brave Scots Labour MP Jim Murphy, who was called ‘traitor, scum and a paedophile’ by Scottish Nationalist fanatics while campaigning to save the Union, says one insult stood out. ‘One bloke called me an effing Jewish b******. I admit I support the state of Israel, but I must be the first Catholic with the surname Murphy to be called that.’ 

 

Dog will spare the blushes of the Shadow Cabinet Minister who sighed with despair at Ed Miliband’s Leftie rant of a speech, saying: ‘Oh dear, it seems he has given up on the idea of Labour as a Big Tent and gone for a bivouac instead.’ 

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