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| Miliband 'never close' to running | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Environment Secretary David Miliband has told the BBC he never came close to challenging Chancellor Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership. | |
| Mr Miliband, who announced on Sunday he was backing Mr Brown, said: "I've said for three years that Gordon is the best qualified candidate and I meant it." | Mr Miliband, who announced on Sunday he was backing Mr Brown, said: "I've said for three years that Gordon is the best qualified candidate and I meant it." |
| But he told BBC Radio 4 Today's programme he and other ministers would not be "passive by-standers". | But he told BBC Radio 4 Today's programme he and other ministers would not be "passive by-standers". |
| Mr Miliband also said he was "sure" Mr Brown would learn as prime minister. | Mr Miliband also said he was "sure" Mr Brown would learn as prime minister. |
| 'We all change' | 'We all change' |
| Speculation has mounted for weeks that the environment secretary, a close ally of Prime Minister Tony Blair, would challenge for the leadership. | Speculation has mounted for weeks that the environment secretary, a close ally of Prime Minister Tony Blair, would challenge for the leadership. |
| Mr Miliband, who had repeatedly said Mr Brown was an excellent prime minister-in-waiting, offered his unequivocal backing for Mr Brown for the first time in a newspaper article on Sunday. | Mr Miliband, who had repeatedly said Mr Brown was an excellent prime minister-in-waiting, offered his unequivocal backing for Mr Brown for the first time in a newspaper article on Sunday. |
| Asked on Today if he had ever come close to standing, he replied: "No." | |
| Then asked if it was possible for Mr Brown - often accused of having an abrasive style - to learn in office, he said: "I'm sure it is. We all change as we learn. | Then asked if it was possible for Mr Brown - often accused of having an abrasive style - to learn in office, he said: "I'm sure it is. We all change as we learn. |
| "The striking thing about Gordon is the way he has a voracious appetite for new ideas... He has genuinely deep values that he tries to apply to new circumstances." | "The striking thing about Gordon is the way he has a voracious appetite for new ideas... He has genuinely deep values that he tries to apply to new circumstances." |
| Questioned about why fellow Labour politicians had tried to persuade him to run, Mr Miliband said that was a matter for them. | Questioned about why fellow Labour politicians had tried to persuade him to run, Mr Miliband said that was a matter for them. |
| Mr Blair is expected to announce his resignation shortly after elections on 3 May. | Mr Blair is expected to announce his resignation shortly after elections on 3 May. |
| In Sunday's Observer, Mr Miliband wrote: "I will vote for Gordon Brown to lead Labour's drive." | In Sunday's Observer, Mr Miliband wrote: "I will vote for Gordon Brown to lead Labour's drive." |
| "I have watched him and worked with him for nearly 20 years. He has in the last 10 years done great things for living standards; no-one is better qualified to lead across a wider canvas." | "I have watched him and worked with him for nearly 20 years. He has in the last 10 years done great things for living standards; no-one is better qualified to lead across a wider canvas." |
| Candidates need the support of 44 MPs to join the leadership contest. | Candidates need the support of 44 MPs to join the leadership contest. |
| So far only backbenchers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have said they will stand. | So far only backbenchers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have said they will stand. |
| Mr Meacher, the former environment minister, said he had the support of 25 Labour MPs and expected to inherit 15 more who were currently backing Mr McDonnell, the chairman of the Socialist Campaign Group. | Mr Meacher, the former environment minister, said he had the support of 25 Labour MPs and expected to inherit 15 more who were currently backing Mr McDonnell, the chairman of the Socialist Campaign Group. |
| Some commentators believe that there could also be challenges from Home Secretary John Reid and former home secretary Charles Clarke. | Some commentators believe that there could also be challenges from Home Secretary John Reid and former home secretary Charles Clarke. |
| Mr Reid appeared to keep his options open in an interview with GMTV's Sunday Programme. | Mr Reid appeared to keep his options open in an interview with GMTV's Sunday Programme. |
| He said: "By saying that I won't discuss it, by definition, you don't rule in or out." | He said: "By saying that I won't discuss it, by definition, you don't rule in or out." |