The Leadership Coach's Blog
This leadership coach's blog, comes as Labour Leader Ed Miliband attempts to chart a new course for himself and his party.
Political Leadership : Ed Miliband - 'What I Say Is!'
It's Labour Leader Ed Miliband on Radio Four's Today programme with John Humphries. Ed is working hard to get his points across. in the face of Humphries' combative interviewing.
As usual Miliband is sincere and genuine. But his debating points are unfortunately negated at times, by his curious use of language.
Ed is fond of opening statements with the phrase, 'What I say is...' For example, 'What I say is, we are going to do it very differently from the past'.
It's rare, to hear anyone talk like this in everyday life. It's the exclusive language of politics. As if the Labour Leader is at a distance from his audience.
'What I say is'! This statement suggests that Ed is telling us about himself speaking to us. Thus - Ed, himself, and his statement! Talk to us. In everyday language. Drop the Westminster speak, and cut to the chase.
Perhaps this strange language represents where Ed actually stands in relation to his audience. He is at a distance. Not yet connected.
Miliband may be keen to outline his current policy thinking, but without connecting and communicating to his public directly, his messages, will be lost.
Ahead of his keynote speech today at the OXO tower, the BBC flashed an alert across the TV screens announcing 'David Miliband coming up'!
The pressure is on Ed Miliband right now. Flagging in the polls. Sub-consciously mistaken for his brother on a regular basis. It's surely time to take the gloves off and come out fighting. Not just on policy. But on tone and language.
Ed may not be a street-fighter by nature. But unless he finds a way to communicate directly, in a language that ordinary people can relate to, his leadership of the Labour Party will be short-lived.
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