David Miliband ‘had enough of Westminster soap opera’

DAVID Miliband has admitted that the reason for his resigning as a Labour MP was to end the political “soap opera” surrounding his relationship with his brother Ed, who defeated him in a bitter contest for the party leadership three years ago.

The former foreign secretary announced yesterday morning that he was quitting his South Shields seat and moving to New York to take up the position of president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee charity.

David said he wanted to end any fascination over the relationship with his brother but resisted ruling out a return to Westminster politics.

Labour leader Ed said that British politics will be “a poorer place” without David and admitted the bruising leadership battle which pitted the two brothers against each other had been “difficult”.

“Time has helped to heal that,” he added. “I will miss him.”

In a letter to his constituency party chairman in South Shields, 47-year-old David – who was long regarded as the brightest Labour star of his generation and a possible future prime minister – said it was “very difficult” for him to be leaving politics in the UK. He said he still “passionately” wanted to see Labour returned to power and praised Ed’s leadership for making it “achievable”.

“I’ve wrestled with this very, very hard and I have tried to make a decision that is right not just for me but is right for the Labour Party as well,” he said.

“I want it to be the vision Ed has versus David Cameron’s vision. I didn’t want to become a distraction from that central task.

“I didn’t want the soap opera to take over the real substance of what needs to be done.”

The announcement prompted praise for David’s political career from across the parties as well as former colleagues.

Labour figures expressed sadness at the loss of such a significant figure in what will be seen as a severe blow to the Blairite right of the party.

Former prime minister Tony Blair hired David as his head of policy in opposition and took him into Downing Street in 1997, before appointing him a minister a year after his election to parliament in 2001.

Mr Blair said: “He is obviously a massive loss to UK politics. He was the head of my policy unit and then a truly distinguished minister in the government and remains one of the most capable progressive thinkers and leaders globally. I hope and believe this is time out not time over.”

Former Cabinet colleague David Blunkett said he was “deeply saddened” and said David would be “sorely missed”.

Labour’s former home secretary Alan Johnson said Mr Miliband had been in “an impossible position” since losing the leadership race to his brother.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said: “This is a surprising decision from David Miliband. He has contributed a great deal to British politics and we wish him well.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Mr Miliband was a “thoughtful and active” foreign secretary and would be a “real loss” to the Labour Party.

Alan Donnelly, chairman of the South Shields constituency Labour Party, said: “I think it’s a very grown-up thing he has done and I am sure it is done out of love and loyalty for his brother. I think that’s a good thing.”

In his statement, Ed Miliband made clear that he wants the door to remain open for his brother to return to a prominent role in the UK, saying: “British politics will be a poorer place without David. But his huge talents will be serving people around the world.

“I hope and believe that at some point in the future he can once again make a contribution to British public life.”