David Miliband was reportedly offered the position of Education Secretary in Andy Burnham's recent cabinet reshuffle but declined the offer, according to a Labour source cited by the Daily Mail. The former Foreign Secretary, who has led the International Rescue Committee since 2013, is said to have turned down the role because it was seen as less senior than the position his brother, Ed Miliband, received, and due to his prior support for the incumbent Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson.
Ed Miliband was promoted to Foreign Secretary in the reshuffle, a significant move from his previous role as Energy and Net Zero Secretary. David Miliband, who served as Foreign Secretary under Gordon Brown from 2007 to 2010, had been widely speculated to return to frontline politics and potentially take on a senior role in a Burnham government.
Bridget Phillipson was subsequently moved to Equalities Secretary and also appointed Labour Party chair, a move reportedly made to placate anger among some Labour MPs over her demotion. David Miliband had publicly supported Phillipson during the 2019 general election campaign.
Meanwhile, Lucy Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central and a close ally of Andy Burnham, is reportedly furious after being passed over for the title of Deputy Prime Minister. Powell is said to have expected the position, with allies indicating that Burnham's team had briefed the possibility over the weekend. Instead, Burnham has opted not to use the Deputy Prime Minister role, with its responsibilities reportedly falling to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Louise Haigh, who also received the title of First Secretary of State.
Sources suggested that Powell's perceived snub was the result of an internal power struggle with the new Chief Whip, Anneliese Midgley. A party source described Haigh and Midgley as acting like "factional Mafioso" in orchestrating the reshuffle.
There are also rumors that David Miliband is considering standing for Keir Starmer's London constituency in the event of a by-election, should Starmer resign from Parliament.
Downing Street and David Miliband were approached for comment by the Daily Mail.