Post date: Sep 27, 2010 11:4:7 AM
At the Labour party's conference on Monday (September 27) leadership loser David Miliband praised his brother Ed, who beat him in the closely-fought leadership race, and said the party must unite behind him.
But David Miliband, the favourite choice for leader amongst Labour members of parliament but who lost the union vote, would not be drawn on whether he would be willing to serve in his brother's shadow cabinet.
Arriving at the Labour conference centre in Manchester, new leader, Ed, said his brother needs time to reflect on his future.
"We had a very nice discussion on Saturday, but he needs his own time to think about what he is going to do. I think he has a huge amount to offer our politics, but we will see what he decides," he told reporters.
To a standing ovation inside the conference centre, the former Foreign Secretary David Miliband rallied the troops.
"We have a great new leader and we all have to get behind him," he said.
He also said he was "incredibly proud" of his younger brother.
Media speculation over David Miliband's political future is rife. Some reports suggest David would view a position in his brother's cabinet as distracting for the party, other reports say that Ed has offered his brother the position of shadow Chancellor.
Both brothers stressed the need for taking the party forward and learning lessons from the thrashing Labour received during the May election.
"The fight back has begun. That is our mission this week," said David Miliband to rousing applause from delegates.
Projecting an image of unity, the two brothers hugged and stood with their arms around each other as delegates cheered wildly.