The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

David Miliband refuses to rule out future leadership bid

Labour leadership runner-up tells local paper: “Who knows what will happen in the future?”

By George Eaton Published 13 December 2010 13:39

Discussing the Milibands recently with a Labour peer, I was told: "Things are terrible. They're no longer on speaking terms."

In an atmosphere of lingering resentment at Ed's leadership campaign, notably his (truthful) claim to have opposed the Iraq war, the two camps have struggled to evolve a modus vivendi. Meanwhile, David's supporters have constructed a fantasy in which their man returns to claim the crown from his treacherous brother.

With this in mind, the elder Milband's comments to the Journal are perfectly placed to keep the rumour mill churning.

He tells the local paper:

I have no plans to return to front-line politics – at the moment, that is. For now, I'm doing what's best for the party and leaving the field open for Ed to lead the party. I've got to admit I wish the leadership campaign had gone differently but who knows what will happen in the future?

For those increasingly suspicious of his political motives, David has a clear message: I'm not going anywhere.

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Tags: Ed Miliband David Miliband Labour leadership

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28 comments

Wed, 2010-12-15 05:26 — cvxucv cviuocvxi (not verified)

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Wed, 2010-12-15 11:34 — mount1

"I've got to admit"

Is it just me or is that not Tony Blair phrasing. Along with the (f*cking AWFUL horrendous JARRING ArrrgH!!!) glottal stops that's enough to disqualify this man and others like him from any position where they control other people's destiny. Out of touch career politician/patrician/social weeviling school bully fodder. Sure he's a lovely man but why doesn't he go out there and experience some life...take the National Express.

Why can the public not have better ? Just for once ?? Is it our fault?

Wed, 2010-12-15 11:40 — mount1

oh and manipulative arses. horses for courses I suppose. self-selecting.

Mon, 2010-12-13 13:53 — Lou (not verified)

After his throwing the toys out of the pram moment, his total hogging of the limelight post Labour election results whilst professing he didn't want to detract from Ed's moment, he's right - he isn't going anywhere and certainly not onwards and upwards into a leadership position.

Mon, 2010-12-13 18:08 — Pam (not verified)

If this is the sort of thimg to expect, then I will categorically say now that if david leads the Labour paety, I will resgn from it.

Mon, 2010-12-13 18:09 — Pam (not verified)

If this is the sort of thimg to expect, then I will categorically say now that if david leads the Labour paety, I will resgn from it.

Mon, 2010-12-13 18:09 — Pam (not verified)

If this is the sort of thimg to expect, then I will categorically say now that if david leads the Labour party, I will resgn from it.

Mon, 2010-12-13 19:03 — ang (not verified)

@ Pam
Have you taken your tablets today?

Mon, 2010-12-13 19:10 — Lou (not verified)

Ang,

It's some fault with NS it prints some comments two or three times, others frequently not at all and it refreshes the page back to a time eight hours ago.

Mon, 2010-12-13 19:24 — ang (not verified)

@Lou
I wasn't just referring to the duplication, but also the content.
Although I think Ed is very funny, I am actually one of David Milibands biggest fans, I can't help it!

Mon, 2010-12-13 19:27 — Lou (not verified)

@Ang,

Oops sorry lol.

NS is painful though, the Ed M press guy story has disappeared and the best of the web post too, any comments after about two oclock have also disappeared from this post and others. I wish they'd sort their IT department out.

Mon, 2010-12-13 20:31 — swatantra

Its all NS's fault caused by the wrong kind of snow in the works.

Tue, 2010-12-14 01:43 — yuccaplant (not verified)

my comment has gone also

Tue, 2010-12-14 01:46 — Hova (not verified)

Why would people be against this ? David would have won had it not been for the stupid voting system and the unions basically hijacking the election.

Furthermore, David would have been a much more astute leader, not only with his manner, but his grip on what is needed- for example, staying away from a graduate tax and not appeasing the NUS just for point scoring. Furthermore, he could probably eat david cameron and dick clegg for breakfast. Ed miliband may be a 'nice guy' but he is a piss poor leader, who is way in over his head.

Tue, 2010-12-14 09:27 — Sarah (not verified)

So Ed was against the Iraq war, was he? Who, at the time, did he tell? Did he resign from his labour job? Did he join any marches? Did he ever speak out once he was elected an MP? If he did, it wasn't very loud. He's an opportunist, just not ready for this job. And what a shame for our country that we're stuck with him when there's so much room for a strong opposition voice.

Tue, 2010-12-14 09:58 — swatantra

Trouble is we've got the wrong people in posts. Caught a snatch of Balls replying to Theresa May yesterday. Balls simply looked unhappy as Shadow Home Sec, whereas May looked completely in control. May is the acceptable face of the Tories, appears compassionate, appears concerned, not arrogant in the least and looks very good on TV. If Cameron fell under a bus the Tories could do no better then put her in No 10. Even Pickles seemed in command of his DLGC Brief when announcing the 4.4% cuts.
The point is the longer the Tories and Lib Dems are in Govt the more established they are going to be and more difficult to shift, when the economy improves, as its bound to in 2 years.
Labour needs to turn tnhe big guns on pretty quick.

Tue, 2010-12-14 10:31 — ang (not verified)

I gave up trying to post anything else yesterday, obviously a few gremlins in the works.
@ swatantra,
Teresa may gives me the creeps and come across as too 'School maamish' with a hint of Thatcher and a dash of the 'worst witch'.Im sure there's a perfume in there somewhere.
Eric Pickles is very sinister and should be cutting the burgers, not the councils, he no longer has a neck!
The 4.4% of cuts, to which you refer, are actually 9.3% in Liverpool, which is one of the most deprived areas in the country, wheras the toff towns are virtually unscathed. This is a blatant, cynical ploy, to keep Tory voters happy.
Why is the economy 'bound to improve' in 2years?

Tue, 2010-12-14 13:11 — yuccaplant (not verified)

before my comment went AWOL yesterday i was saying pretty much the same thing,the wrong people are in the wrong places,Cooper should be shadow chancellor simple as,Johnson should have been derailed and put somewhere nice not a high profile job like that.

Ed wont be PM he doesnt come across at all well and in this media age thats vital,that coupled with his woeful performances at PMQ's and his odd,to say the least shadow appointments and lest we forget the 6th form paper that was for all accounts Labours manifesto last time out have made him vulnerable,i think things will come to a head quickly if say a couple of by elections arent whitewashes.

And no next time out i wouldnt vote for Dave M,if she ran,and i hope she will i would vote for Yvette Cooper but thats crystal ball gazing at the moment.

Tue, 2010-12-14 15:16 — swatantra

The economy is bound to bounce back, because things are never as bad as painted. And things usually tick along, without intereference from Govt. I fear that Ed jumped in too early in his career, rather like William Hague, into the leadership.
I've got a feeling that the C21 is the century of women and they will be running our lives. So expect a great leap forward for women in control of most things from govt to business.

Tue, 2010-12-14 16:30 — John Spence (not verified)

@ Hova

You need to take a look at the analysis the 'Left Futures' blog did.

You say the unions stole the election? Nonsense. Under a OMOV system, Ed would have romped home by 9% / 28,000 votes.

http://www.leftfutures.org/2010/09/ed-would-have-won-by-more-under-omov/

Tue, 2010-12-14 17:02 — Sarah (not verified)

Whatever, John. He's still rubbish, and we need, need, need somebody who's not. He was last on my list...and I kind of feel justified.
I honestly hoped I'd been wrong. He's just too early...needed a few more years' experience.

Tue, 2010-12-14 19:22 — Reginald-Fah-fah

I think David miliband will have to become the leader before the next general election.

Tue, 2010-12-14 19:31 — Mulligrubs (not verified)

Yes Reginald, but leader of what? - the Cain and Abel party - or better still 'The New Cain and Abel party?' If he wants to be part of the New Chuckle Brothers party - he only has to cross the floor of the house.

Tue, 2010-12-14 21:25 — kenny jenkins

Am I missing something here. David Miliband says essentially nothing and it's proof of........what exactly?

Tue, 2010-12-14 22:12 — swatantra

It proves that a good journalist can make a story out of b****r all. David M was just responding in a vague way to a hypothetical question, purely speculative, which isn't going to happen anyway.
This is the last thing that poor Eddie the Unready needs at this moment in time with Xmas on the horizon and 2 weeks away from politics and more time with his family.