This morning on Marr we had a classic example of ‘politikspeak’ with the interview of Douglas Alexander (starts26:00).

Questioned on the matter of Ed Miliband’s standing within not just his own party but the criticism in general, Alexander said:

It tells you much more about the agenda of the newspapers than it tells you about the agenda of Ed Miliband and the Labour party. I’ll tell you what’s going on. We’re doing well, we’re going on to victory.

In not answering the question – not that he answered other questions put by Marr – here we have a perfect illustration of a politician, who it has been said has leadership ambitions of his own, being obsequious to the point of making one cringe.

Neither can one let pass, when pressed by Marr, whether a Labour government would negotiate Trident with Nicola Sturgeon, Alexander’s reply:

As a prospective foreign secretary in an incoming Labour government, the responsibility of defending this country [against aggression] is not something that is the subject of trading away interests one way or the other.

Defending this country means defending its sovereignty, yet this is a man belonging to a party content to continue the subjugation of his country’s sovereignty to the European Union; the entire process of which involves trading away interests, one way or the other.

Were there to be a leadership battle following Labour losing the 2015 general election, Alexander, assuming he did not succeed in that contest, would no doubt be at the forefront of any queue pledging loyalty – purely to ensure his continued desire for power.

Er, what was that about politicians having principles, being straightforward, honest, truthful?