The Miliband dilemma
By Ian Dunt and Alex Stevenson
David Miliband is refusing to be drawn on his future in frontline politics as his leadership defeat dominates the Labour party conference in Manchester.
The elder Miliband brother, who narrowly lost the leadership following a boost in Ed Milband’s support among union members, must decide by Wednesday whether he is prepared to stand in shadow Cabinet elections and serve underneath his younger brother.
He is reportedly agonising about whether the psychodrama of his relationship with Ed Miliband would tarnish his future political career.
I’ll be fine, David Miliband tells Labour
“Please – no more factions, no more soap opera,” he told delegates in his speech as he looked to a future of “one united Labour party taking on the coalition government”.
David Miliband managed to evade the conference and spend the day with his wife yesterday, where he is thought to have pondered his future.
David Miliband sketch: Neither rebellion nor loyalty
Senior figures in the Labour party want him to take the chancellor job. It is one of the few senior posts available to him, given that he has already held the foreign secretary role, and would prove to sceptics that the party is not going to veer to the left too far on the issue of the deficit.
But sources indicate Mr Miliband may forsake a frontbench position altogether, or even quit British politics.
Speaking to journalists today, Ed Miliband said: “He’ll make a decision in his own way and his own time… he needs his own time to think about what he’s going to do.
“David is someone who is incredibly loyal to both myself and the party.”
The shadow foreign secretary made it clear earlier today that he would not come to a decision before the end of conference.
William Hill are giving him odds of 1/2 to become shadow chancellor and 5/1 that will not accept any job in the shadow Cabinet.
“I want to say first of all I’ve been incredibly honoured and humbled by the support you’ve given me, but we have a great new leader and we all have to get behind him,” David Miliband told delegates, after they gave him a standing ovation.
“I’m really really really proud. I’m so proud of my campaign, I’m so proud of my party, but above all I’m incredibly proud of my brother.”
After the speech media reports indicated that David Miliband comforted his wife, who broke into tears behind the stage, before speaking privately with his brother for several minutes.
Nominations have opened for the 19 shadow Cabinet posts which are open to the ballots of MPs.
Most Labour leadership candidates, including Diane Abbott, are expected to win prominent positions.
