Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper dish up trouble for Miliband over lasagne


  • Balls accused of plotting to install his wife as next Labour leader

By
Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:51 AM on 30th January 2012

ED Balls and Yvette Cooper have been accused of plotting against Ed Miliband at a lasagne dinner.

The husband-and-wife Labour duo wined and dined 30 supporters at a party over New Year,  where one of their children told guests Miss Cooper will be Labour’s next leader.

Mr Balls faced claims yesterday that he would like to install his wife, the shadow home secretary, as Mr Miliband’s replacement.

Power couple: Balls and Cooper's charm offensive has not gone unnoticed by Ed Miliband's brother, David, who still harbours leadership ambitions himself

Power couple: Balls and Cooper’s charm offensive has not gone unnoticed by Ed Miliband’s brother, David, who still harbours leadership ambitions himself

When the couple’s children performed a
party piece, one of the guests said: ‘Well done. You would clearly make
a great leader of the Labour Party.’

One of the children replied: ‘No, my mummy is going to get that job.’

Under fire: Balls has reportedly raised the questions of Ed Miliband's political survival among his dinner party guests

Under fire: Balls has reportedly raised the questions of Ed Miliband’s political survival among his dinner party guests

The event occurred when the Balls-Coopers invited members of their shadow ministerial teams to their London home.

Mr Balls made the lasagne. It was claimed yesterday Mr Balls asked guests whether they thought Mr Miliband would survive.

He is also alleged to have raised the subject in one-on-one lunches with other colleagues.

A shadow minister accused the shadow
chancellor of trying to create a ‘power base’ which he could use to
strike against Labour’s leader in future.

He said: ‘I don’t think Ed has ever
stopped manoeuvring. The difference is that he seems to be on manoeuvres
in his own kitchen.’

Labour has a history of leadership plotting connected with food.

Tony Blair was persuaded to stand down
after the so-called ‘curry house plot’ in which Gordon Brown’s
supporters schemed in a balti house.

Allies of Mr Balls denied there was
anything suspicious about the dinner.

A source said the couple were
‘bonding with their teams’.

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Please appoint this odious woman as Labour leader then maybe the Lib Dems can be resigned back to obscurity where they belong.

Please appoint this odious woman as Labour leader then maybe the Lib Dems can be resigned back to obscurity where they belong.

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