David Miliband ‘committed to supporting Ed’

In an interview yesterday, he stressed his ambition was to contribute to bringing Labour back to power, adding he had to have the “humility to recognise” that a “daily soap opera” would not benefit the party.

Mr Miliband said he did not regret running for the leadership in 2010, when his younger sibling, who is MP for Doncaster North, beat him and added: “While a daily soap opera might be fun for the media, it wouldn’t be good for the Labour Party.

“I don’t regret running for the leadership, but I honour the fact that my brother won and I am completely committed to doing everything I can to support him in that leadership and I think I can best support him by working at the grass roots.

Asked if he would carry on as a Labour MP after the next election, he said: “Yes, I’m representing my constituents in South Shields.”

Police and MI5 officers havereportedly stepped up security around Ed Miliband’s Westminster offices after three break-ins.

Labour sources said they were “extremely concerned” about the Whitehall incidents, but a spokesman for the party in Yorkshire said he was “not aware” of any plans to step up security around Mr Miliband’s Doncaster HQ.