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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Miliband 'will not take EU job' | Miliband 'will not take EU job' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has rejected the chance to become EU high representative, the BBC understands. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has rejected the chance to become EU high representative, the BBC understands. |
| He has been seen as a frontrunner for the foreign affairs job, one of two created by the EU Treaty. | He has been seen as a frontrunner for the foreign affairs job, one of two created by the EU Treaty. |
| He had said he was not "available" to be a candidate but speculation he might leave the government has continued. | He had said he was not "available" to be a candidate but speculation he might leave the government has continued. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband had told the head of the European socialists' group on Sunday he was not interested in the job. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband had told the head of the European socialists' group on Sunday he was not interested in the job. |
| Our correspondent said Mr Miliband had rejected the lure of high office in Brussels for the uncertainty of life in a Labour government heading for a difficult election. | Our correspondent said Mr Miliband had rejected the lure of high office in Brussels for the uncertainty of life in a Labour government heading for a difficult election. |
| Some friends have warned him that if he left British politics now he would be portrayed as "a rat leaving a sinking ship" Read Nick Robinson's newslog | Some friends have warned him that if he left British politics now he would be portrayed as "a rat leaving a sinking ship" Read Nick Robinson's newslog |
| And he said Mr Miliband's friends had told him there was still a small possibility that Gordon Brown might choose to stand down before the election and he would be a natural successor. | And he said Mr Miliband's friends had told him there was still a small possibility that Gordon Brown might choose to stand down before the election and he would be a natural successor. |
| Foreign secretary since 2007, Mr Miliband has been touted as a future Labour leader and was urged by some to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership in 2008. | Foreign secretary since 2007, Mr Miliband has been touted as a future Labour leader and was urged by some to challenge Mr Brown for the leadership in 2008. |
| The foreign secretary had responded to speculation he might take the job of EU high representative for foreign affairs by saying he was not "available" to be a candidate. | The foreign secretary had responded to speculation he might take the job of EU high representative for foreign affairs by saying he was not "available" to be a candidate. |
| But speculation continued in several newspapers on Monday that Mr Miliband was in the running for the EU job, fuelled by his appearance in Germany at celebrations marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. | But speculation continued in several newspapers on Monday that Mr Miliband was in the running for the EU job, fuelled by his appearance in Germany at celebrations marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. |
| Candidates must be nominated by the government of one of the EU's 27 member states. Earlier on Monday Mr Brown's spokesman was asked if the prime minister would rule out nominating Mr Miliband. | |
| He replied: "If the prime minister is not actively campaigning for David Miliband for the role - which he is not - then he is clearly not desiring for him to be a candidate for the role. | He replied: "If the prime minister is not actively campaigning for David Miliband for the role - which he is not - then he is clearly not desiring for him to be a candidate for the role. |
| "The point is, nor is David Miliband. The prime minister has no intention of nominating David Miliband, because that is not an eventuality that is actually going to happen. | "The point is, nor is David Miliband. The prime minister has no intention of nominating David Miliband, because that is not an eventuality that is actually going to happen. |
| "On the basis, that David Miliband has made it clear that he doesn't want the job." | "On the basis, that David Miliband has made it clear that he doesn't want the job." |
| Mr Miliband has been campaigning for former PM Tony Blair to get the other job created by the Lisbon Treaty, that of president of the European Council. | Mr Miliband has been campaigning for former PM Tony Blair to get the other job created by the Lisbon Treaty, that of president of the European Council. |
| But there have been suggestions that he might be in the running for the foreign affairs role if Mr Blair fails to be selected for the job of president. | But there have been suggestions that he might be in the running for the foreign affairs role if Mr Blair fails to be selected for the job of president. |
| Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU and is expected to call a special summit within the next few weeks for leaders to decide on a president and high representative. | Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU and is expected to call a special summit within the next few weeks for leaders to decide on a president and high representative. |