The likelihood that Mr Miliband will desert Labour as the party heads towards defeat at the election rose with the disclosure that the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, is backing him for the post.While Mr Miliband has publicly insisted he is "not available" and "not a candidate", he is understood to be genuinely interested after senior EU figures at the Brussels summit last week said he would be ideal. Yet his interest in the role means he is prepared to give up the Blairite hope of succeeding Gordon Brown as leader before the election and minimise or even avert electoral catastrophe.
The likelihood that Mr Miliband will desert Labour as the party heads towards defeat at the election rose with the disclosure that the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, is backing him for the post.
While Mr Miliband has publicly insisted he is "not available" and "not a candidate", he is understood to be genuinely interested after senior EU figures at the Brussels summit last week said he would be ideal. Yet his interest in the role means he is prepared to give up the Blairite hope of succeeding Gordon Brown as leader before the election and minimise or even avert electoral catastrophe.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband is making his first official visit to Russia today. His two-day visit to Moscow - which will see him meet his Russian counterpart and a host of other officials - is also the first by a British foreign secretary to the country for five years.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband is making his first official visit to Russia today.
His two-day visit to Moscow - which will see him meet his Russian counterpart and a host of other officials - is also the first by a British foreign secretary to the country for five years.
A senior British cabinet minister insisted on Sunday that the Labour party could not "spare" David Miliband to take the role of Europe's first "foreign secretary".Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, claimed that the British foreign secretary did not want to go. "We'll be keeping him," she told the BBC.
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, claimed that the British foreign secretary did not want to go. "We'll be keeping him," she told the BBC.
Ministers face an embarrassing showdown in court after the European Commission accused Britain of failing to protect its citizens from secret surveillance on the internet. The move adds to claims that Britain is creeping towards a Big Brother state and could end with the Government being forced to defend its policy on internet privacy in front of judges at the European Court of Justice.
Ministers face an embarrassing showdown in court after the European Commission accused Britain of failing to protect its citizens from secret surveillance on the internet.
The move adds to claims that Britain is creeping towards a Big Brother state and could end with the Government being forced to defend its policy on internet privacy in front of judges at the European Court of Justice.
in his absence, his brother Ed would become leader and he's supposed to be more leftish and traditional. It may not be the perfect course, but it would turn labour away from disaster and give them a chance to sort things out. keep to the Fen Causeway
