Labour Party leadership race - David and Ed Miliband - former Haverstock School pupils go head-to-head

Published: 20 May 2010
by DAN CARRIER

THEY are the boys from Haverstock School who have become the front-runners in the race to be the next leader of the Labour Party.

David and Ed Miliband, who were brought up in Primrose Hill and still live in Camden, have both put themselves forward. And, as first and second favourites, the odds are good that a former pupil of the Chalk Farm school will be leading the party in the next general election.

Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson has confirmed he favours Ed, while Hampstead and Kilburn MP Glenda Jackson has yet to decide. She has expressed unhappiness that no women have yet put themselves forward. 

“I’m waiting to see who else throws their hat into the ring before making a decision,” she said.

Those who recall the pair from their school days say that while having two siblings rise to the top of a political party may seem a remarkable state of affairs, it is not surprising:  Haverstock’s class of the early 1980s has produced many successful alumni. Best-selling author Zoe Heller was in David’s English class, while other contemporaries include former Labour MP Oona King.

Ms Heller, who now lives in New York, told the New Journal that she had fond memories of the brothers and how Haverstock’s comprehensive system helped shape them. She said she had been out of the country long enough to not realise that there was any real political differences between the pair – but praised David’s ability to speak to people.

“My instinct is David will be the more electable,” said Ms Heller. “I think when David has to do one of those fake conversations with the ‘man on the street’, as they all have to do, I believe his relaxed demeanour – much more than I would believe that of the present PM. I think that is important for people in England where the class system remains in­tact and is so complex.”

Haverstock teacher Oscar Gregan took David, the older Miliband, for maths and occasionally taught Ed. He recalls both with affection. Like Mr Dobson, he believes Ed may have the edge: his reputation in the staffroom was that of being something of a number-crunching genius.

Mr Gregan said: “When I joined in 1979, I remember meeting this tiny little kid called David. I heard his surname and I wondered if he had anything to do with the famous Ralph Miliband. I had met Ralph and his wife outside Chalk Farm station and realised I was teaching their sons.

“David was not a natural, geeky mathematician – Ed was more like that – but he was a lively, active student who developed a good mastery of maths. 

“He was articulate and had a strong presence. He showed brilliant attention to detail, and a great sense of tenacity – talents that undoubtedly would lend themselves to mastering political briefs quickly.”

David – followed by Ed – won a place at Oxford, and Mr Gregan recalls it was not on the strength of David’s academic talents.

He said: “David got in on a scheme which enabled pupils from inner-city state schools to gain unconditional offers if they impressed at interview.” 

But it was not all work and no play for the potential leader: Mr Gregan recalls David’s fondness for sport. 

He said: “He played in goal for the school team and cricket in the playground.”

But above all, and hardly surprisingly, David was already a political animal as a teenager. 

Mr Gregan added: “David was strongly left-wing. He took part in a radio programme on the Falklands invasion, and if I recall correctly, he was active in the Socialist Society. He used to campaign for John McDonnell, the MP who is now attempting to run as a left-wing candidate for the leadership.”

Mr Gregan’s fond memories of the pair are matched by the brothers, as Ed told the New Journal. He said: “Haverstock was a school that taught me a huge amount. 

“I learnt not just how to pass exams, I learnt something more important: how to get on with ­people from all sorts of backgrounds.” 

Along with a head for maths, it will be another vital talent if he becomes the person to unite the various wings of the Labour Party.