David Miliband retires to the back benches

On Wednesday afternoon Labour shadow cabinet minister David Miliband announced that he would not put his name forward for his party's shadow cabinet elections. The decision was widely anticipated by analysts. David Miliband lost the Labour leadership election on Sunday with his brother, Ed Miliband, winning a very tight race. David said he would continue to serve as a Labour MP from the back benches, but that he did not want a frontline position, as analysis of his and Ed's relationship would create distractions for Ed in his leadership role. Ed, in turn, magnanimously declared:"My door is always open for him to serve in the future."  Read more: The Guardian