Why David Miliband should serve under his brother

By Matthew West

Ever since the result of the Labour leadership contest was announced on Saturday afternoon there has been speculation about whether David Miliband will serve in a shadow cabinet under his brother, and rightly so.

For those that may have been irked by the media speculation and the constant rumours swirling about and the claims in The Times, for example, that behind the scenes David’s people have begun to brief that he will retire from frontline politics, the simple fact is that if he doesn’t serve under his brother Labour will be in real trouble.

There are effectively two ways this can go. One David will serve under his brother and the media will constantly talk of how he upstages Ed at every turn. This has to be a consideration for both men at present and it could be problematic. The likelihood that the media will also jump on the slightest twitch of the nose, grimace or surly look is also without doubt. It will be Blair versus Brown 2.0 if the brothers allow it. But there were some good things about that partnership too let’s not forget. The two Miliband brothers could balance each other in a similar way. Blair may complain that Brown held him back from some of his more radical reforms but actually I’m pretty glad he did.

It is possible he will decide to do just that having been rejected by the Labour party one too many times. For a man of such ambition as well it must be a bitter blow to loose to your younger brother by such a small margin. There’s a psychology there as well. David will feel as if he has suffered the ultimate betrayal by one of the people closest to him. For all the smiles, hugs and protestations of love right now the older Miliband hates the younger. And I don’t blame him one bit. Imagine being talked out of going for your dream by your best friend only for them to steal that dream from you two years later. Try walking in David’s shoes for a few minutes and whoever you supported in the leadership contest that’s a very bitter pill for anyone to swallow.

Meanwhile, anyone that thinks Ed isn’t up to the job of being Prime Minister only ever needs to look back at how he won the leadership contest from his brother, if he has the chutzpah to do that he has the guts to do practically anything. So those pushing a “nice guy Eddie” agenda should probably be a bit more careful. Politics is, after all, a dirty business and Ed knows how to fight dirty that’s quite clear.

If David can swallow that bitter pill – and I still think that’s a big ask of anyone – I’ll have a huge amount of admiration for him. If he can unite the Labour Party by joining with his brother in the shadow cabinet, which I believe is the only way the party can be united after such a close run contest, he will show just courageous he can be. If he can influence Labour party policy, use his massive intellect to continue to make William Hague’s life difficult – for I believe he would be better to stay as shadow foreign secretary – Labour just might have a chance of winning the next election, slim as that chance is right now whatever the polls today might say.