David Miliband addresses Labour conference

David Miliband addressed the Labour party conference in Manchester after loosing out to his younger brother Ed in the party’s leadership contest at the weekend.

Speaking to party members the former Labour leadership contender praised his brother and urged his party to fully back him.

“You don’t run for the leadership, you don’t do anything like that in politics or in life, unless you are 100 per cent committed to winning,” he said.

“But I’ve also learned something else in life: you never go in for something, especially something so important, unless you are sure in yourself that you are reconciled to the prospect that you might lose. That’s life.

“So to those of you who have been coming up to me in the last few days – don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

He joked that at a reception for the Usdaw union a man told him: “Ed, congratulations on your victory.” Mr Miliband told the conference: “I can do without that.”

Arriving at the conference this morning with his wife Louise he said he was still considering his future.

“I don’t know if you noticed but I came here on Saturday planning a slightly different week. I am now thinking what I am going to do instead,” he said.

During the leadership election campaign Mr Miliband said he would be prepared to serve under his brother, who until Saturday had always been his junior in politics. He has until Wednesday evening to put himself forward for the shadow cabinet.

David Miliband assures Labour 'I'll be fine'
Jokey speech from David Miliband telling the conference "I'll be fine", writes Political Editor Gary Gibbon.

Also gave full-throated "100 per cent" support to his brother's leadership. It gives him the political space to pull out of frontline politics if he wants to, to continue at it if that's what he wants too. He got a very warm reception.

This truly is a story of two conferences - the gloomy Davidites who will tell you this week is the start of a disaster, "we're rolling backwards downhill," "we're f*****," and much more besides, depending on how late in the evening you ask.

Ed's supporters are naturally cock-a-hoop but can see the issues that need addressing - "Red Ed" and the unions' man. Tomorrow's leader's speech has to achieve so much.

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Speaking this morning, newly crowned Labour leader Ed Miliband said his brother had a huge amount to give to politics. “There is no psychodrama”, he said.

On his arrival at the conference Ed Miliband indicated he would be making no decisions on the shadow cabinet until next week at the earliest.

“We had a very nice discussion on Saturday, but he needs his own time to think about what he is going to do,” he said.

“I think David is someone who is incredibly loyal, both to me and to the country. He will make his own decision about the best thing for him, and I think that is the right thing.

“But actually, this conference is about his speech today and my speech tomorrow. It is about us showing to the country that we understand why we lost the General Election and us showing humility to the country.”