Runners and Readers

[steepholm]

On Radio 4 this morning Yvette Cooper ruled herself out of the Labour leadership race, explaining that she still had twenty-five years of her career left, but only two or three more years when she'd be able to read her small children bedtime stories. I assume this means that her husband Ed Balls will be ruling himself out on the same grounds very shortly? Stand by your radios!

Comments

[calimac.livejournal.com]

And Gordon Brown: does he never get to read his children bedtime stories?

Balls, I say...

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

There are women in politics?



Actually, that's silly, there's Warsi and May, a formidable double act. Has anyone seen Harriet Harman? Pass the packet of Hazel Blears.


Maybe Balls agreed to teach them to read?

[sheenaghpugh]

I'd say she had her priorities right (and would say the same of any man who had the nous to make that decision).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I don't disagree (indeed, I made the same choice myself - not wrt being Labour Party leader, I should add). However, I'm feeling a bit cynical here. It hasn't escaped my notice that Cooper spent the last few years as a member of the Cabinet, not exactly a part-time job or one that leaves its holder free to read bed-time stories on a regular basis. I suspect this is just a convenient excuse for a decision she's made on other grounds.

If Ed Balls actually does say the same, I'll eat my copy of Each Peach Pear Plum.

[gillo]

The Ahlbergs are worth far more than Balls - don't do it!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty safe. ;-)

[gillo]

I was also staggered by her explanation. MPs, let alone Cabinet Ministers, have all the time in the world to read stories to their children, but Prime Ministers who live in the building they work in don't? Or is she assuming the job would never be more than Leader of the Opposition, with all those red boxes to work through...

Oh.

Garbage.