Ed Miliband goes back to the worst of Labour spin and smear

Tim Montgomerie

If you thought Ed Miliband represented a break from the spin'n'smear of the Blair and Brown years, think again.

Perhaps the appointment was made in desperation (a YouGov poll yesterday found only 27% of voters thinking he was up to the job) but the Labour leader has appointed The Times' Tom Baldwin as his spin doctor. George Pascoe-Watson broke the story on Twitter. Actually it was James Kirkup.

I've long argued that Baldwin worked for Labour, even as a Times journalist. At least he's now open about it.

I had two experiences of Mr Baldwin and on both occasions he wasn't interested in the truth, just attack journalism.

Politics is going to get nasty with him at Ed Miliband's side.