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Ed Miliband
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Ed Miliband

UK Foreign Secretary since July 2026; former Energy Secretary and Labour leader 2010-15.

Burnham reshuffled Miliband from Energy Secretary to Foreign Secretary as his top team took shape by 23 July 2026, with John Healey installed at the Treasury and Angela Rayner at Housing.

Last refreshed: 17 October 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics

Key Question

Can Miliband's Foreign Office make Tehran pay for the Fairford plot?

Timeline for Ed Miliband

#181 12 Oct

Burnham blames IRGC for suspected plot

Iran Conflict 2026
#13 23 Jul

Moved from Energy Secretary to Foreign Secretary

UK Local Elections 2026: Burnham builds a cabinet of his own
#9 15 May

Mentioned in: Labour NEC clears Burnham for Makerfield run

UK Local Elections 2026
View full timeline →
Follow UK Local Elections 2026 →Follow Iran Conflict 2026 →

Background

Ed Miliband has been Labour MP for Doncaster North since 2005 and led the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015, winning the leadership over his brother David Miliband, Andy Burnham, Ed Balls and Diane Abbott in September 2010 before losing the 2015 general election to David Cameron and resigning the following morning.

He returned to government under Keir Starmer as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero from July 2024, a brief centred on the UK's net-zero commitments and the creation of Great British Energy, the state-backed energy company legislated by the 2024 Labour government.

Burnham's reshuffle, finalised in the days after he took office on 20 July, moved Miliband sideways into the Foreign Office rather than out of government. His own 2010 leadership win, in which he narrowly lost the membership vote to David Miliband but won through the Electoral College, has been cited as a structural precedent for contested Labour successions.

Common Questions

Reference

Was Ed Miliband ever leader of the Labour Party?
Yes. Ed Miliband led the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015, winning the leadership contest over his brother David Miliband, Andy Burnham, Ed Balls and Diane Abbott, before losing the 2015 general election and resigning as leader.Source: Lowdown
What is Great British Energy?
Great British Energy is a state-backed clean energy company legislated by the 2024 Labour government and championed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. It is designed to accelerate the UK's clean energy transition by co-investing in renewables and reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage
What happened between Ed Miliband and his brother David?
Ed Miliband beat his older brother David Miliband in the 2010 Labour leadership contest. David Miliband was the frontrunner and led among MPs and constituency members, but Ed won through the Electoral College system after securing stronger trade union support. David subsequently left British politics and became president of the International Rescue Committee in New York.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage
Is Ed Miliband still Energy Secretary?
No. Prime Minister Andy Burnham moved Ed Miliband from Energy Secretary to Foreign Secretary when he completed his Cabinet between 20 and 23 July 2026.Source: Lowdown
Is Ed Miliband the Foreign Secretary?
Yes. Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed him Foreign Secretary on 20 July 2026, moving him from Energy Security and Net Zero.Source: Lowdown
Why did Ed Miliband summon Iran's ambassador?
He summoned Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi on 12 October 2026 after Britain attributed the RAF Fairford plot to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Mousavi said Tehran had no involvement.Source: France 24
Source Material
Ed Miliband — GOV.UKEd Miliband — Wikipedia

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 17 October 2026. Editorial standards.