TRIBUTES have been paid to David Miliband following his decision to stand down as a North-East MP.

The former Foreign Secretary, who was favourite to become Labour leader in 2010 but lost out to his brother Ed, announced he will leave politics to lead the New York-based humanitarian charity the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

He said he wanted to end any fascination over the relationship with his brother, but resisted ruling out a return to Westminster politics.

Labour leader Ed said that British politics will be a "poorer place" without David and admitted the bruising leadership battle which pitted the two brothers against each other had been "difficult".

In a letter to his constituency party chairman in South Shields, 47-year-old David said he still "passionately" wanted to see Labour returned to power and praised Ed's leadership for making it "achievable".

He told the BBC: "I want it to be the vision Ed has versus David Cameron's vision. I didn't want to become a distraction from that central task, I didn't want the soap opera to take over the real substance of what needs to be done."

His resignation will spark a by-election and South Tyneside Council leader Iain Malcolm has been tipped as a strong local contender.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who represented Sedgefield in County Durham, said: “I congratulate David on his appointment to a major international position.

"I'm sure he will do a great job. He is obviously a massive loss to UK politics.

“I hope and believe this is time out not time over."

North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones said: “He has been a very good friend and colleague in the North-East.

“I understand why he has made the decision and I think he will be a loss to the Labour Party.”

It is understood that Mr Miliband will continue to be on Sunderland AFC’s board of directors.

Constituency party secretary John Anglin said Mr Miliband had done good work and his departure was a “great loss’’.

He added: "We want to make sure we are allowed to choose our own MP, something we have not done in living memory.

"We have a Labour-run council, which is doing great work, and we have the people up here who are capable of becoming an MP."

A Labour North spokesman said: “It’s too early to say on the date of by-election, or a timetable for selection, as David hasn’t formally stood down yet."