Exit stage left

IT is not every day that a North-East MP leaves the stage to tributes from former presidents and prime ministers – but not every MP is David Miliband. The resignation of the South Shields MP – to run the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in New York – prompted a frenzy of questions about its reasons and its impact.

Why is he quitting now? Was it inevitable?

Will it strengthen Ed Miliband – or weaken him? Is David Cameron delighted? What if Labour had picked Miliband senior? And can he come back?

The intense interest reflected the glittering career path of the man that Tony Blair called “my Wayne Rooney” and whom Alistair Campbell christened “Brains”.

The elder Miliband was penning speeches for Labour’s leader by his mid-20s, became Mr Blair’s head of policy a few years later and was Foreign Secretary by the age of 41.

But it was the way that David had the party leadership snatched from him by his own kid brother – and the way he was so visibly traumatised by it – that captured the public’s attention.

The rift was laid bare even as the 2010 victory speech was made. David was caught berating Harriet Harman as she applauded Ed’s declaration that the Iraq invasion had been a mistake. I also remember clearly the look on David’s face, in the front row below, during parts of the speech – a look close to murderous.

I saw a man who, even knowing every TV camera was fixed on him, was unable to control his shattered emotions at the moment of his brother’s triumph.

Cain killed Abel, Noel broke up Oasis to escape Liam, Frasier Crane fumed when Niles beat him to become corkmaster of their local wine club. This was sibling rivalry – at its most raw.

Despite David’s good behaviour since, and his warm tributes to Ed’s leadership, it is said that relations are still strained – and that forgiveness is some way off.

It is why I struggle with the interpretation that the ongoing media “soap opera” – David again used the phrase yesterday – is the chief reason for the fresh start in the US.

A return to the Shadow Cabinet would, of course, have triggered furious speculation about the brothers’ relationship – but the spotlight would have moved on, I suspect.

A bigger obstacle appeared to be David’s stillraw emotions. As a younger brother, who can’t imagine fighting my elder for a coveted job, I don’t blame him for a moment.

The refusal, or inability, to join Ed’s team does explain the timing of the announcement.

That was a move that had to be made soon – or not at all.

Furthermore, David appeared genuinely excited about the new challenge ahead, when he spoke yesterday, looking forward to helping “the most desperate people in the world”.

NOTING Albert Einstein inspired the IRC’s formation, for those – like his own father – who fled the Nazis, Miliband senior added: “Given my own family history, there is an additional, personal motivation for me.”

Yesterday, one supporter, asked what a David-led Labour party would look like, compared with his brother’s version replied, simply: “We would have direction.”

The comment reflected an exasperation that Ed has yet to set out where Labour stands on the big issues, is drifting to the left and lacks a strategy to win seats in the South.

There is no doubt David would have been much tougher on Labour’s economic failures and on the need to be upfront with voters about the awful cuts still to come, after 2015.

'If I can come back, David Miliband can come back. Don’t rule out anything'
Peter Mandelson

When he has attacked the Coalition’s record, he has done so with an authority, intelligence, passion and sheer verve so lacking in much of the Shadow Cabinet.

For that reason, the Prime Minister will not miss him – and will be looking forward to mocking Ed that he couldn’t even convince his own brother to join him.

However, Ed is sitting on healthy poll leads and will be quietly relieved that the drama is over. And there is a different reading of his elder brother’s record and leadership potential.

A former Gordon Brown aide was scathing yesterday, almost taunting David about the way he tried to topple the then-prime minister – only to pull back, timidly.

Damian McBride said: “David Miliband will go down as the Errol ‘Bomber’ Graham of UK politics: the best of his generation, but no chin when it mattered.”

Tory MPs, and Tory-friendly papers, love to poke Labour for choosing “geeky” Ed, not “charismatic” David – but they would, would not they?

Thinking back, it was David snapped with a banana and Ed connecting with younger voters.

If the result had been different, Labour’s critics would still say they picked the wrong Miliband.

Can he return? Well his mentors certainly hope so. Yesterday, Peter Mandelson said: “If I can come back, David Miliband can come back.

Don’t rule out anything.”

And Mr Blair – with more than a hint of desperation – said: “I hope and believe this is time out, not time over.”

But the truth is that Ed is on course to become prime minister and that – when the time comes – Yvette Cooper, or a younger rival, will romp home in the leadership contest.

At 47, David Miliband can have every hope that the best years are still to come – but not in British politics, it seems certain.