David Miliband takes first step to reconciliation with new Labour role
Former foreign secretary accepts offer to act as party's unofficial ambassador on university and college campuses
David Miliband has taken a tentative first step to rejoining frontline Labour politics by accepting an offer from his brother, Ed, to act as an unofficial ambassador for the party on university and college campuses.
In what will be seen as an act of public reconciliation, the ex-foreign secretary is taking on the role which aides describe as "taking our message to students" after a series of apparently warm discussions with the Labour leader about how he could best contribute to the party's revival.
The one-time frontrunner to succeed Gordon Brown was surprisingly defeated for the Labour leadership in last September's election, and has kept a low profile on the backbenches to avoid accusations that he is undermining his brother. He has also had to nurse some difficult emotional and political wounds.
One of the party's few intellectuals, David Miliband will undertake a 20-date tour of campuses over the next year speaking to students on foreign affairs, climate change and issues of interest to students such as the funding of higher education.
Leadership sources last night confirmed that he was taking on a new role for the party, but stressed: "This should not be seen as a sign that he is being lined up for an early shadow cabinet return."
One senior aide said: "David announced a year ago that he did not want to serve on the frontbench. That position has not changed and we respect it. But his willingness to help the party in this way does reflect David's desire to contribute tangibly to the party's renewal under Ed's leadership."
If the elder Miliband enjoys the new role and is not seen a threat to his brother, speculation about a shadow cabinet role is certain to rise within Westminster.
On the tour he will be using a question and answer format. The political messages these produce will be formally reported back to the party's poli! cy revie w head, Liam Byrne, by Labour Students, now a dominant force in many universities owing to the fall in support for the Liberal Democrats.
As part of the role, David Miliband has also agreed he will campaign on campuses for a living wage for university employees, a campaign being taken up by Labour Students. He also hopes that he will be able to deploy his Movement for Change project in support of the campaign.
Movement for Change, born out of his leadership campaign, is aiming to train 10,000 community organisers between now and the next election, and has suggested every constituency party appoint a community organiser. It is also possible that Movement for Change will affiliate to the Labour party as a socialist society.
Since the defeat, David Miliband has mixed his time between seeing more of his young family and speaking mainly on foreign politics, such as Afghanistan, Libya, the rise of China and the causes of defeat for social democratic parties in Europe. He insisted he had moved on from his narrow defeat, but did not want to do anything that could detract from his younger brother's leadership. The agreement emerged after Ed Miliband appeared to have achieved a personal political breakthrough with his strong criticisms of News International. The idea of a new role has, however, been in discussion for more than a month.
Ed Miliband has repeatedly said he would welcome his brother's return to the shadow cabinet, but that it is up to David. The Labour leader has given himself the power to appoint his own shadow cabinet, abolishing elections by the party's MPs.
There have been strains between the brothers' families, and some shadow cabinet members felt it took both men longer than they anticipated to come to terms with the consequences of the contest.
On university funding, Ed backed a graduate tax while his brother was less emphatic. But both agree that government plans are not sufficiently progressive.
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