Miliband reveals violence during his ‘tough schooling’
By politics.co.uk staff
Ed Miliband was “hit a few times” in school, he has revealed in a highly personal interview.
The Labour leader spoke about his schooling, his relationship with partner Justine Thornton and drugs during an extended interview with Piers Morgan for GQ.
Asked if he had ever been in a fight, Mr Miliband replied: “Well, I may have been hit a few times. I went to a tough school.”
Asked if he remembered the names of the boys who hit him, he replied: “I do, actually, but I’m not going to tell you.”
The Labour leader was questioned on his relationship with Ms Thornton, a Cambridge-educated barrister. Traditionalists have questioned why the two remain unmarried.
Asked by Mr Morgan if he was a good husband, Mr Miliband replied: “I’m not her husband!”
When discussing the £1.6 million house Ms Thornton owns, Mr Morgan said: “So you married a millionaire?”
Mr Miliband replied: “I’m not married!”
Later in the interview Mr Miliband insisted Ms Thornton should be described as his partner.
“Girlfriend sounds too temporary,” he explained.
Asked for his views on marriage, Mr Miliband said: “It’s a good institution and part of having stable families, but there are also people in unmarried relationships with stable families. I don’t think politicians should order people to get married.
“The more people who challenge me on it from a political standpoint, the more resistant I will become.
“We’ll get married because we want to get married and love each other very much, no other reason.”
Asked which three women he would take with him to a desert island, Mr Miliband listed Teri Hatcher, Rachel Weisz and Scarlett Johansson.
Asked about drugs in university, the former Oxford student replied: “I was a bit square.”
