I don’t normally have more than a passing interest in what’s happening in the UK politics. But this time, the Labour Party leader’s election was different. With two good-looking brothers in the fray, it was an unusual battle and one difficult to ignore. David Miliband (45), former foreign secretary, and his brother Ed (40), ex-energy and climate change secretary, were the two favourites to succeed Gordon Brown.
The world has seen brothers in politics before, such as the Kennedy brothers in the US and the Kaczynski twins in Poland. But the Miliband brothers’ story makes a great copy for journalists nonetheless. Born to Polish migrants, they went to the same school, took the same degree in the same year and joined the cabinet at the same time. David became Tony Blair’s policy chief and Ed was a speechwriter for Brown.
But the negative energy that dominated the Blair-Brown rivalry is conspicuous by absence here. “David is my best friend in the world. I love him dearly,” Ed said during his campaign. “There is no way I’m going to take lumps out of him either on the record, off the record or behind the scenes.”
Yesterday it emerged that Ed had beaten his elder brother by a wafer thin margin of 1 per cent. I was watching BBC news and saw an emotional Ed bear-hugging a visibly happy David.
Perhaps a lesson here for our Ambani brothers? It's possible to be business or career rivals without sacrificing the filial bond.
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Agree with you.
ReplyDeleteBrotherly love is true happiness in response to another’s success,rare to see these days. On the other hand,sibling rivalry is known from Biblical times.Time will prove how the relationship survives the tests ahead.
ReplyDeletewow excellent comparison..hope the ambanis get the msg..btw..welcome back...:)
ReplyDeleteNot only for Ambani bros.It applies to a lot of other political and business families.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful. Just hope that the bond survives the test of time and tide. As for Ambani bros, looks like it's all a sham, the rivalry. Bcoz they're both building businesses, expanding laterally and raking in the money, and someday if they come together (if that's the secret agenda) they'll build a biz empire too big to imagine! Just some vague thoughts...
ReplyDeleteIndeed i agree with you.. and this applies to everyone in indian politics...
ReplyDeleteand yes the brothers looked happy in the news hugging each other .. though i was hoping the elder one won ... :)
Bikram's Blog
thank u for sharing the bond of brothers.
ReplyDeletethats great to see such bonding
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. Where were you?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Yet who knows what they are really up to, all this thing could be just an act.
Very good example
ReplyDeleteHello! Yes, I agree with You,It was unusual battle.
ReplyDelete