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JK Rowling may well have been among those hoping the Twitter rumours, upon seeing the results of the exit poll, David Miliband had hopped on a plane from the US to hot-foot it over to the UK and save Labour’s bacon.
The party suffered heavy losses, particularly in Scotland, where the SNP took all but four of their seats in a landslide victory.
The Harry Potter author is a vocal and financial supporter of Labour, and even she found it difficult not to picture herself Ed Miliband’s brother’s shoes:
The brothers competed against each other in the 2010 Labour leadership election, which was triggered by the Labour loss in the General Election of that year, which saw PM Gordon Brown ousted.
Ed beat David by just 1.3 per cent after winning the backing of the trade union vote.
She also paid tribute to outgoing Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy :
Ed Miliband has since resigned as leader of the Labour party.
Best General Election 2015 quotes Show all 10 1 /10Best General Election 2015 quotes Best General Election 2015 quotes 1. "Am I tough enough? Hell, yes, I'm tough enough." Ed Miliband bats away suggestions he would be too weak on the international stage. It likely to go down as one of the quotes we remember this election by.
Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Best General Election 2015 quotes 2. "If I'm getting lively about it, it's because I feel bloody lively about it." David Cameron attempts to prove how passionate he is about wanting a second term as Prime Minister after Tory donors criticised his lack of enthusiasm.
AFP
Best General Election 2015 quotes 3. "Oh it's crats? I thought it was Liberal Demo-cats" Reality TV star Joey Essex is taught a thing or two during his meeting with Nick Clegg.
PA
Best General Election 2015 quotes 4. "Brain fade" Green party leader Natalie Bennett gave what was described as the "worst political leader's interview ever" on LBC Radio as she fails to answer how the Greens would pay for its ambitious housing policies.
LBC/YouTube
Best General Election 2015 quotes 5. "We're a shining example of a country where multiple identities work. Where you can be Welsh and Hindu and British, Northern Irish and Jewish and British, where you can wear a kilt and a turban, where you can wear a hijab covered in poppies. Where you can support Man Utd, the Windies and Team GB all at the same time. Of course, I'd rather you supported West Ham" David Cameron experienced his own brain fade when he forgot which football team he supported.
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Best General Election 2015 quotes 6. “This is a real career-defining … country-defining election that we face in less than a week’s time” The Prime Minister made another gaffe when he made it sound like the election was all about himself.
BBC
Best General Election 2015 quotes 7. “Ed Miliband stabbed his own brother in the back to become Labour leader. Now he is willing to stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister.” Defence Secretary Michael Fallon launched a vicious personal attack on Ed Miliband.
PA
Best General Election 2015 quotes 8. "Ajockalypse Now." The colourful term used by Boris Johnson to describe a Labour government propped up by the SNP.
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Best General Election 2015 quotes 9. “The SNP are openly racist. The anti-English hostility, and the kind of language that is used about and towards English people, is totally extraordinary.” Nigel Farage launches an attack on Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP party.
AFP/Getty Images
Best General Election 2015 quotes 10. "Terms are like Shredded Wheat. Two are wonderful, three might be too many." David Cameron rules out a third term as Prime Minister.
Getty Images
“It has been a very difficult and disappointing night for Labour,” he said.
“The next Government has a huge responsibility to hold our nation together.”
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