Political commentator James Tapsfield has voiced skepticism regarding Ed Miliband's potential appointment as Britain's Foreign Secretary, suggesting the former Labour leader may not possess the necessary skills for the diplomatic role. Tapsfield's remarks were made on the Daily Mail's Deep Dive podcast, where he analyzed the early moves of the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.
Burnham, who recently became Britain's seventh Prime Minister in a decade, has pledged to create a "circuit breaker" from the political instability experienced since the 2016 Brexit vote. His initial focus has been on establishing a "cost of living government," marked by the announcement of a new cabinet and several policy initiatives aimed at providing financial relief to the public.
However, Tapsfield has raised concerns about several of Burnham's cabinet selections and policy economics. He specifically questioned Miliband's fitness for the Foreign Secretary position, describing him as someone who "often looks like an alien wearing human skin when you put him in front of a camera." Tapsfield pointed to Miliband's "strange mannerisms and slight gurning habits" as potential hindrances in diplomatic interactions. He also noted potential difficulties with the U.S. administration, particularly concerning Miliband's strong stance on net-zero policies and his past opposition to the Iran war, where the U.S. utilized British airbases. Tapsfield also mentioned Miliband's relationship with Gavin Newsom, who is reportedly not favored by Donald Trump.
Burnham's early policy announcements include cutting VAT on domestic energy bills, capping bus fares at £2, reducing business rates for pubs and live music venues, and a commitment to ending rough sleeping. The government asserts that these measures are funded by reallocating resources from existing or discontinued programs. However, critics, including Starmer loyalist Darren Jones, have questioned the funding mechanisms, with Jones pointing out that the proposed funding source for the energy bill relief, a digital ID scheme, had not been costed.
Tapsfield warned that Burnham's approach, characterized as a "blitz of feel-good things," could be perceived as fiscally imprudent by markets and the public. He suggested that the administration is attempting to project a positive image by implementing immediate public benefits, in contrast to previous strategies that focused on negative economic outlooks. Tapsfield indicated that many of these initiatives appear to be funded through existing budgets or by increasing borrowing, rather than through new financial allocations. He cited the bus fare cap, a policy Burnham previously implemented in Manchester, as an example where funding details remain unclear. Furthermore, a proposed shift in international aid from climate project grants to loans is still awaiting detailed planning, according to Transport minister Heidi Alexander.