David Miliband hints at another stint in British politics

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/13/david-miliband-british-politics-hints-return

Version 0 of 1.

David Miliband has hinted at a return to British politics, saying he does not intend to spend the rest of his life in the US.

Miliband, who is currently head of the International Rescue Committee in New York, added that he was worried by the debate surrounding Britain’s membership of the EU.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Miliband did not rule out a return to Westminster, saying: “You just don’t know, do you?”

“Tony Blair and John Major have said that they wish they’d done their post-premiership jobs before they became prime minister.”

Asked if he saw his current role as a possible pre-premiership job, he joked: “That’s not the way I conceived it.”

Miliband also spoke of his frustration at the debate over Britain’s membership of the EU: “I don’t want the prime minister to paint himself into a corner and, still worse, paint the country into a corner. But there’s a real danger of that.

“Those on the pro-British – as I call it – pro-European side of the argument have got to make the case that we get far more from being at the table than shouting with a loud hailer outside the room. I have this residual faith in the common sense of the British people that generally they don’t do stupid things. And it would be unbelievably stupid to walk out of the European Union.”

Pushed on whether he could play a role in a referendum campaign – which the Conservatives have promised to hold in 2017 if re-elected – he replied: “I would vote.”

David Miliband quit as an MP in 2013, three years after losing the election to lead the Labour party to his brother, Ed.

Labour has since dropped about six points in the polls, while Ed Miliband’s leadership has been criticised.

Asked whether he thought Labour would win in the 2015 election he replied: “I passionately want Labour to win – and Ed to win.”

He described his brother as having clarity, vision and determination. “Those are all important qualities. But, equally, I have made it a rule not to insert myself into the political dynamic for two reasons. One, I have got a job that requires me to work with the current government. And, two, I am trying to run a charity, not a political party. My experience is that anything I say gets taken out of context.”