Ministerial offices 2006–2008

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Minister for the Cabinet Office
In office 28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Hilary Armstrong
Succeeded by	Liam Byrne
Minister for the Third Sector
In office 6 May 2006 – 28 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Phil Woolas
Succeeded by	Phil Hope

Shadow Cabinet posts

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
In office 29 November 2021 – 5 July 2024
Leader	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Barry Gardiner
Succeeded by	Claire Coutinho
In office 11 May 2010 – 8 October 2010
Leader	Harriet Harman (acting)
Preceded by	Greg Clark
Succeeded by	Meg Hillier
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
In office 6 April 2020 – 29 November 2021
Leader	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Rebecca Long-Bailey
Succeeded by	Jonathan Reynolds

Member of Parliament
for Doncaster North

Incumbent

Assumed office
5 May 2005

Preceded by

Kevin Hughes

Majority

9,126 (29.4%)

Personal details

Born

Edward Samuel Miliband

24 December 1969 (age 55)
London, England

Political party

Labour

Spouse

Justine Thornton

(m. 2011)

Children

Parents

Ralph Miliband
Marion Kozak

Relatives

David Miliband (brother)

Alma mater

Corpus Christi College, Oxford (BA)
London School of Economics (MSc)

Signature

Edward Samuel Miliband (born 24 December 1969) is a British politician. He has been the MP for Doncaster North since 2005. Since July 2024, he has served as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

From 2010 to 2015, Miliband was the leader of the Labour Party. This also made him the Leader of the Opposition. He served in the government's top team, called the Cabinet, from 2007 to 2010. This was under Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His brother, David Miliband, also served in the Cabinet at the same time.

Miliband was born in London. His parents, Marion Kozak and Ralph Miliband, were immigrants from Poland. His father was a well-known thinker who had to leave Belgium during World War II. Ed Miliband studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and the London School of Economics. Before becoming an MP, he worked as a journalist and a researcher for the Labour Party. He also taught at Harvard University for a while.

Early Life and Education

Ed Miliband was born in London. His mother, Marion Kozak, was a human rights activist. She was a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust thanks to help from Catholic Poles. His father, Ralph Miliband, was a professor from Belgium. He was also a Polish Jew whose family fled to England during World War II. The family lived in London. His older brother, David Miliband, also became a politician.

When Ed was young, his family moved to Leeds. He went to Featherbank Infant School there. He also spent two periods living in Boston, USA, because of his father's work. He enjoyed his time in the US and became a fan of American culture.

From 1978 to 1989, Ed attended Primrose Hill Primary School and then Haverstock Comprehensive School in London. He learned to play the violin. As a teenager, he reviewed films and plays for a radio show. After finishing his O-levels, he worked for Tony Benn, a well-known Member of Parliament.

In 1989, Miliband went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was elected student president in his first year. He later earned a master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Political Career Begins

Working for the Labour Party

After university, Miliband started working in media. In 1993, he became a policy researcher and speechwriter for Harriet Harman, a Labour politician. He then moved to work for Gordon Brown, who was the Shadow Chancellor at the time.

From 1997 to 2002, after Labour won the election, Miliband became a special adviser to Chancellor Gordon Brown. This meant he helped Brown with important economic plans.

Time in Harvard and Return

In 2002, Miliband took a break to be a visiting scholar at Harvard University in the USA. He taught economics there. He also reported back to Gordon Brown about US politics. When he returned to the UK in 2004, Brown made him chairman of the Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers. He was in charge of the UK's long-term economic planning.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 2005, Ed Miliband decided to run for election as an MP. He was chosen to be the Labour candidate for Doncaster North. This was considered a safe Labour seat. He won the election on 5 May 2005. He received 55.5% of the votes.

In May 2006, Prime Minister Tony Blair made him the Minister for the Third Sector. This role involved working with voluntary and charity organisations.

Joining the Cabinet

When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in June 2007, he promoted Miliband to his Cabinet. This is the group of most senior ministers in the government. Ed and his brother David Miliband became the first brothers to serve in a British Cabinet since 1938.

In October 2008, Miliband was promoted again. He became the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. This was a new role focusing on energy and climate issues. He announced that the UK government would aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

He also attended the 2009 Copenhagen Summit on climate change. There, countries agreed to provide money to help fight climate change. During the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, Miliband was praised for having very low expenses claims.

Leading the Labour Party (2010–2015)

Becoming Leader

Miliband's portrait as Labour leader

After the 2010 general election, Gordon Brown resigned as Labour leader. Ed Miliband announced he would run to replace him. His brother, David Miliband, also ran. Other candidates included Ed Balls and Andy Burnham.

Many people supported Ed Miliband, including former Labour leader Neil Kinnock. On 25 September 2010, Ed Miliband won the election. He narrowly beat his brother David.

As Leader of the Opposition

As Labour leader, Miliband shifted the party's policies more towards the left. He called this "One Nation Labour". He opposed the government's cuts to public services. He also changed how the Labour leader is elected. He replaced the old system with a "one member, one vote" system in 2014. This gave more power to individual party members.

Shadow Cabinet

Miliband formed his top team, called the Shadow Cabinet, in October 2010. His brother David decided not to join. Miliband appointed Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor and Yvette Cooper as Shadow Foreign Secretary.

Elections and Resignation

Miliband led Labour through several elections.

In the 2011 local elections, Labour did well in Wales and gained many seats in northern England.
In the 2012 local elections, Labour continued to gain control of councils across England and Wales.
In the 2014 European Parliament elections, Labour came second, ahead of the Conservatives but behind UKIP.
In the 2014 local elections, Labour won the most votes overall.

Leading up to the 2015 general election, Miliband launched Labour's manifesto. He made five key promises on things like living standards, the NHS, and tuition fees. He was often portrayed in the media as being a bit awkward.

Despite opinion polls suggesting a close race, Labour lost the 2015 general election to the Conservative Party. Labour lost many seats in Scotland. After the defeat, Miliband resigned as leader on 8 May 2015. Jeremy Corbyn later became the new leader.

After Leading the Party (2015–Present)

Backbencher

After resigning, Miliband continued to serve as the MP for Doncaster North. He spoke about fighting inequality and supported the Paris Agreement on climate change. He also campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union during the 2016 referendum.

In 2016, Miliband said that Jeremy Corbyn should step down as leader. However, he later said he was "clearly wrong" to call for Corbyn's resignation. He was re-elected as MP in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Return to the Shadow Cabinet

On 6 April 2020, Keir Starmer became the new Labour leader. He appointed Miliband to his Shadow Cabinet. Miliband became the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

In November 2021, Miliband was appointed to a new role: Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero. This meant he was in charge of Labour's plans for climate and energy.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Miliband arrives for Prime Minister Keir Starmer first Cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street

Miliband with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in October 2024

In the 2024 general election, Miliband was re-elected as MP for Doncaster North with a larger majority. After Labour won the election, Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. Starmer appointed Miliband as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. This means he is now a government minister responsible for energy and climate policies. Two days after his appointment, Miliband lifted a ban on onshore wind farms.

Political Beliefs and Views

Ed Miliband is generally seen as being on the "soft left" side of the Labour Party.

His Own Views

Official MP portrait, 2017

Miliband has said he wants to move beyond old arguments within the Labour Party. He calls for a "new politics." During his leadership campaign, he described himself as a socialist. He also criticized some of the actions of the government under Tony Blair, like its foreign policy. He was against the Iraq War.

He has called for "responsible capitalism." He supported making the 50% top rate of tax permanent. He also wanted to limit top salaries and replace university tuition fees with a "graduate tax." He supported a "living wage policy" for workers.

Miliband publicly identifies as a feminist. In 2012, he supported same-sex marriage. He said that gay and lesbian couples should have the same right to marry.

He has spoken about his Jewish heritage. He has said that he must criticize Israel when needed, even though he is Jewish and a friend of Israel. He opposed the "killing of innocent Palestinian civilians" during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.

After his time as leader, Miliband said he wished he had been "radical enough" in his plans. He feels he has become "more left wing" as he has gotten older. In 2019, he supported a "Green New Deal" for the UK.

Views on Other Politicians

Miliband with his wife Justine at the 2011 Labour Party Conference

As Labour leader, Miliband often criticized Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. He accused Cameron of breaking promises. He was also very critical of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg after Clegg formed a coalition government with the Conservatives. Miliband said Clegg had "sold out" his party's voters.

When former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died in 2013, Miliband spoke respectfully about her in Parliament. He acknowledged that he disagreed with some of her policies but respected her achievements.

He has spoken positively about his brother David. He also praised his predecessors as Labour leader, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. When asked about the greatest British Prime Minister, Miliband chose Clement Attlee, a Labour leader after World War II.

How the Media Portrayed Him

Miliband in 2007

During the 2015 election campaign, Miliband was seen as genuine in wanting to help working people. However, the media sometimes portrayed him in a funny or awkward way. Political cartoonists often drew him looking like Wallace from the British animation Wallace & Gromit. Pictures of him doing everyday things, like eating a bacon sandwich, often went viral. In a TV debate, he was asked if he was "tough enough" to be Prime Minister, and he famously replied, "Hell yes, I'm tough enough."

Other Work

Official portait, 2020

In June 2017, Miliband was a guest presenter on a BBC Radio 2 show. He also co-hosts a popular podcast called Reasons to be Cheerful with radio presenter Geoff Lloyd.

Personal Life

Ed Miliband is married to Justine Thornton, who is a High Court Judge. They met in 2002 and got married in May 2011. They have two sons, Daniel (born 2009) and Samuel (born 2010).

Miliband has Jewish heritage. He describes himself as a Jewish atheist. When he married, he followed the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass. He has spoken about his family's connection to the Holocaust.

Styles

Mr. Edward Samuel Miliband (1969–2005)
Mr. Edward Samuel Miliband MP (2005–2007)
The Right Honourable Edward Samuel Miliband MP (2007–present)

Images for kids

Ed Miliband's signature

Ed Miliband facts for kids

Contents