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| Ed Miliband: British politics will be a poorer place without David | Ed Miliband: British politics will be a poorer place without David |
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| The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has said British politics will be "a poorer place" without his brother, David, who has confirmed he is stepping down as an MP to run the International Rescue Committee (IRC). | The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has said British politics will be "a poorer place" without his brother, David, who has confirmed he is stepping down as an MP to run the International Rescue Committee (IRC). |
| David Miliband said he was leaving British politics "to put my experience into practice on behalf of some of the least fortunate people on Earth" and "repay a personal debt" from his own family history. | David Miliband said he was leaving British politics "to put my experience into practice on behalf of some of the least fortunate people on Earth" and "repay a personal debt" from his own family history. |
| The former foreign secretary who had faced private calls to clarify his position within Labour, told his constituency party in South Shields: "I will forever be Labour. But after writing two election manifestoes in 1997 and 2001, and serving as a minister for eight years, I now have to make a choice about how to give full vent to my ideas and ideals." | The former foreign secretary who had faced private calls to clarify his position within Labour, told his constituency party in South Shields: "I will forever be Labour. But after writing two election manifestoes in 1997 and 2001, and serving as a minister for eight years, I now have to make a choice about how to give full vent to my ideas and ideals." |
| In a statement on Wednesday Ed Miliband said: "Having spoken to him a lot over the past few months, I know how long and hard he thought about this before deciding to take up the offer. I also know how enthusiastic he is about the potential this job provides. | In a statement on Wednesday Ed Miliband said: "Having spoken to him a lot over the past few months, I know how long and hard he thought about this before deciding to take up the offer. I also know how enthusiastic he is about the potential this job provides. |
| "As for us, we went through a difficult leadership contest but time has helped to heal that. I will miss him. 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." | "As for us, we went through a difficult leadership contest but time has helped to heal that. I will miss him. 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." |
| Tony Blair said Miliband's move "shows the huge regard in which David is held worldwide. I'm sure he will do a great job. 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." | Tony Blair said Miliband's move "shows the huge regard in which David is held worldwide. I'm sure he will do a great job. 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." |
| Miliband, an MP since 2001, stunned the party by his decision to accept the post of president and chief executive of the IRC, the New York-based humanitarian organisation. His decision will spark a byelection. | Miliband, an MP since 2001, stunned the party by his decision to accept the post of president and chief executive of the IRC, the New York-based humanitarian organisation. His decision will spark a byelection. |
| Friends of Miliband told the Guardian he had decided to abandon British politics to end the "permanent pantomime" over his political relationship with his younger brother, who narrowly beat him to the Labour leadership in 2010. | Friends of Miliband told the Guardian he had decided to abandon British politics to end the "permanent pantomime" over his political relationship with his younger brother, who narrowly beat him to the Labour leadership in 2010. |
| In his letter to Alan Donnelly, the chair of the constituency party, Miliband said: "After the leadership election, I felt I could be most helpful to the party on the front line, in South Shields and around the country, rather than on the front bench in parliament. I felt this gave Ed the space and at the same time the support he needed to lead the party without distraction. He has done so with real success, leading a united team that has taken the fight to the Tories. | In his letter to Alan Donnelly, the chair of the constituency party, Miliband said: "After the leadership election, I felt I could be most helpful to the party on the front line, in South Shields and around the country, rather than on the front bench in parliament. I felt this gave Ed the space and at the same time the support he needed to lead the party without distraction. He has done so with real success, leading a united team that has taken the fight to the Tories. |
| "I am very pleased and proud that our shared goal of making this a one-term government is achievable." | "I am very pleased and proud that our shared goal of making this a one-term government is achievable." |
| Miliband, the elder son of Jewish immigrants whose family was split during the second world war, said he had always sought "to make a difference to the disadvantaged and vulnerable". The IRC did this on a daily basis and a large scale "for some of the most desperate people in the world". Its work represented the best of humanitarian innovation and ideals, said Miliband. | Miliband, the elder son of Jewish immigrants whose family was split during the second world war, said he had always sought "to make a difference to the disadvantaged and vulnerable". The IRC did this on a daily basis and a large scale "for some of the most desperate people in the world". Its work represented the best of humanitarian innovation and ideals, said Miliband. |
| "The organisation was founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein in the 1930s for those fleeing the Nazis, so given my own family history there is an additional personal motivation for me. | "The organisation was founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein in the 1930s for those fleeing the Nazis, so given my own family history there is an additional personal motivation for me. |
| "I feel that in doing this job I will be repaying a personal debt. It is a strong, innovative and inspirational organisation, with the potential to change lives and help shape the global conversation about the growing challenge of displaced people around the world." | "I feel that in doing this job I will be repaying a personal debt. It is a strong, innovative and inspirational organisation, with the potential to change lives and help shape the global conversation about the growing challenge of displaced people around the world." |
| Lord Mandelson, the former business secretary, told the World Tonight on Radio 4 on Tuesday: "He just combined policy, good judgment, real concern, a knowledge of economics and an ability to tie things together. That is how he will be remembered. And that is why he why he will be a loss. But never say never. I wouldn't say goodbye to David Miliband forever in British politics." | Lord Mandelson, the former business secretary, told the World Tonight on Radio 4 on Tuesday: "He just combined policy, good judgment, real concern, a knowledge of economics and an ability to tie things together. That is how he will be remembered. And that is why he why he will be a loss. But never say never. I wouldn't say goodbye to David Miliband forever in British politics." |
| One friend said: "David was always clear that it was time for him to make a decision this year about his future. The feeling was that if he came back into the shadow cabinet it would be a permanent pantomime. But equally if he did not come back, but remained in the PLP [parliamentary Labour party], it would also be a permanent pantomime. It was therefore not sustainable." | One friend said: "David was always clear that it was time for him to make a decision this year about his future. The feeling was that if he came back into the shadow cabinet it would be a permanent pantomime. But equally if he did not come back, but remained in the PLP [parliamentary Labour party], it would also be a permanent pantomime. It was therefore not sustainable." |
| Miliband, whose wife Louise is an American violinist, had indicated that he would continue serving as an MP after losing the Labour leadership to his brother, Ed, in 2010. But he has felt for some time that he needed to make a decision on whether he could remain in the frontline of British politics. | Miliband, whose wife Louise is an American violinist, had indicated that he would continue serving as an MP after losing the Labour leadership to his brother, Ed, in 2010. But he has felt for some time that he needed to make a decision on whether he could remain in the frontline of British politics. |
| One friend said: "We are facing an election that Labour can win. We need to remove anything that can get in the way of that. David owed it to Ed and to the Labour party to put an end to the endless speculation. He has made that call and shown what a big figure he is. It is very sad but he has done this in the best interests of the party." | One friend said: "We are facing an election that Labour can win. We need to remove anything that can get in the way of that. David owed it to Ed and to the Labour party to put an end to the endless speculation. He has made that call and shown what a big figure he is. It is very sad but he has done this in the best interests of the party." |
| Jack Straw, Miliband's predecessor but one as foreign secretary, told the World Tonight: "His abilities were legion. He has got a very, very sharp mind. He is very good at developing personal relationships. | Jack Straw, Miliband's predecessor but one as foreign secretary, told the World Tonight: "His abilities were legion. He has got a very, very sharp mind. He is very good at developing personal relationships. |
| "He is trusted and he made a big difference, particularly in that last three years of a Labour government under Gordon Brown, in helping to secure Britain's exit from Iraq, in winding down our responsibilities in Afghanistan and also helping to rebalance the British government's position in the world following all the traumas after 9/11 and our relationship with the Americans. So it is a very, very big legacy." | "He is trusted and he made a big difference, particularly in that last three years of a Labour government under Gordon Brown, in helping to secure Britain's exit from Iraq, in winding down our responsibilities in Afghanistan and also helping to rebalance the British government's position in the world following all the traumas after 9/11 and our relationship with the Americans. So it is a very, very big legacy." |
| Straw agreed with Mandelson that Miliband may have a future in British politics. "These days exiting from the House of Commons at one stage – he is only 47 – is not the end of his political life at all. He may feel after running the IRC that he wants to come back into British politics, and he will be welcomed back into the Labour movement if he does want to come back." | Straw agreed with Mandelson that Miliband may have a future in British politics. "These days exiting from the House of Commons at one stage – he is only 47 – is not the end of his political life at all. He may feel after running the IRC that he wants to come back into British politics, and he will be welcomed back into the Labour movement if he does want to come back." |
| Straw said Ed Miliband would have mixed feelings. "I can't be inside in the relationship between Ed Miliband and his older brother David … But I guess that Ed will both be relieved that a decision has been made for him about what to do with David but also very sorry to see such a talent leave and what could have been a great partnership not be there for the immediate future." | Straw said Ed Miliband would have mixed feelings. "I can't be inside in the relationship between Ed Miliband and his older brother David … But I guess that Ed will both be relieved that a decision has been made for him about what to do with David but also very sorry to see such a talent leave and what could have been a great partnership not be there for the immediate future." |
| On the IRC website, former US president Bill Clinton called Miliband "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time", while George Rupp, whom Miliband is succeeding, called him "an experienced world leader and a man of both action and character". He said Miliband's insights, ability and commitment would be tremendous assets. |