David Miliband
David Miliband (b. 1965) is the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and MP for South Shields. The son of Marxist ideologue Ralph Miliband (1924-1994), he is a staunch atheist[1], and has recently called for the Labour government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown to adopt a more extreme socialist line.
Miliband's younger brother Ed Miliband also serves in Gordon Brown's cabinet, as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, making them the brothers to serve together in the British cabinet since World War II.
Following Tony Blair's resignation, Miliband was touted as a potential challenger to Gordon Brown for the leadership of the Labour Party. At the time, no challenge arose; however speculation surrounding the party leadership continued to grow. In 2008, following Labour's massive losses of seats in local elections across the country, an editorial written by the South Shields MP caused controversy when he failed to mention current Prime Minister Gordon Brown with regard to the future of the Labour Party.[2]