NORTH-EAST MP David Miliband is tomorrow expected to announce he is quitting Parliament with immediate effect.

It has been reported tonight that the former Foreign Secretary has accepted a "dream job" for a charity in New York.

The South Shields MP, brother of Labour leader Ed Miliband, is thought to have agreed to take up a senior position with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which responds to humanitarian crises across the world from its New York base.

Mr Miliband's resignation would trigger a by-election in the safe Labour seat of South Shields, which he retained in the 2010 General Election with an 11,109 majority.

Although he is believed to have told only a few people of his decision, a source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "David has landed a dream job in charge of a charity in New York and wants to take it. But it means leaving politics."

Mr Miliband is married to United States-born Louise Shackelton, a professional violinist with the London Symphony Orchestra. The couple have adopted two sons from the US.

Before being appointed Foreign Secretary in 2007, Mr Miliband was Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The 47-year-old narrowly missed becoming leader of the Labour Party in 2010, losing out to his brother by a slender margin.

Since then, he has kept a low profile, but has a number of lucrative directorships.

He was appointed to the board of directors of Sunderland FC in 2011 by then chairman Niall Quinn, who said he hoped the MP could raise the club's profile on a global level.

According to the Commons register, Mr Miliband has earned almost £1m - including travel and accommodation for himself and his staff - since leaving Government.

On its website, the IRC says it works in more than 40 countries and 22 US cities "to restore safety, dignity and hope" to people, helping them to survive humanitarian crises and rebuild their lives.

The present Foreign Secretary William Hague, MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire, has this week been visiting IRC programmes for women in the Congo with Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.

Bookmaker William Hill have tonight made Labour 1/16 favourites to retain David Miliband's South Shield seat at the by election, and make UKIP 7/1 second favourites.

Hills odds: 1/16 Labour, 7/1 UKIP, 50/1 LDems, 200/1 Cons