David Miliband

Speaking at Hay literary festival, former Labour minister says complete disengagement has potential ‘for us to end up in a very, very difficult position’ Former foreign secretary David Miliband has said Europe should have “separate bedrooms” from the US, but not seek a “divorce” from its traditional alliance, despite the Trump administration’s impact on the relationship.Speaking at the Hay literary festival on Sunday, the former Labour minister, who has served as the president of the International Rescue Committee since 2013, said: “You can see the argument that strategic autonomy for Europe means divorce from the United States. I really counsel the dangers of that.” Continue reading...

Ex-foreign secretary urges reset at ‘higher dosage’ after officials revealed to have pitched single market for goodsThe UK needs a “national consensus” about rejoining the European Union, David Miliband has said, in response to revelations that the UK government pitched the creation of a single market for goods with the EU to the bloc.The former foreign secretary, who is now president of the International Rescue Committee, said he thought the UK needed a reset of its relations with the EU at “a much higher dosage” than the government was planning. Continue reading...

Health secretary’s lack of challenge had reassured Starmer and his allies – but then briefings for a speculative Thursday launch emergedAs the unofficial political truce of the king’s speech approached, with still no sign of a leadership challenge from Wes Streeting, some of his Labour colleagues assumed the health secretary’s chance to go for the top job might have passed for ever.“There is a risk he becomes the David Miliband of this generation if he doesn’t do something,” one MP said, a reference to another longtime heir apparent who never made the final step. Continue reading...