Labour leadership contender Ed Miliband has told M.E.N readers that his brother remains his second choice for the job.
The shadow energy secretary spoke out amid reports that he and David Miliband had been briefing against each other in the race to replace Gordon Brown.
David remains the bookies’ favourite when the results are declared in Manchester next month – but Ed is in a strong second place in a contest that also includes Leigh MP Andy Burnham, Ed Balls and Diane Abbott.
Speaking at a question-and-answer session in front of M.E.N readers and Labour party members, Ed Miliband confirmed his brother was his ‘second preference’ for the post.
He said: "The media wants to turn this into a spat and I am not going to let them. I love David very much and we have a strong relationship.
"We have disagreements on certain issues but they are fraternal and friendly disagreements.
"I love my brother and that is true before, during and after this election."
In a wide-ranging session at the People’s History Museum on Saturday, Mr Miliband said he remained ‘open-minded’ about the future of Britain’s Trident nuclear defence system.
He called for school pupils to be given more education in citizenship and admitted Labour had failed to do enough to change the country in its later years in power.
Mr Miliband also said his party had gone too far in introducing targets and inspection regimes into the public sector.
And he said he remained confident he could win, adding: "I’m increasingly positive.
People are responding to the message about the change the Labour party needs.
"We have to turn the page on New Labour."
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Boxing ring. I'd pay to see these two fight three, three minute rounds to decide the winner for leadership of that political dinosaur, the Liebour Party.
I saw him at the Pride march on Saturday, I'm sure he's a nice enough guy, but he looks like a very young man just left uni. I'm not sure he has the necessary gravitas to head the UK government, he's certainly nothing like Obama, or many other world leaders.
People are responding to the message about the change the Labour party needs.
This lot will never change they come into the job ever so humble then grow an arrogant mind where they don't listen to the electorate Blair said after the 2005 election that this result is telling us to listen to the electorate, then Brown says the same thing during his hustings.
In all honesty are these the people who know what ever working Joe wants they work in Westminster completely out of touch with us, the last lot in power were there for their own ends. Prescott hated the class system and vowed to destroy the House of Lords but being the hypocrite he is excepted the ermine, Mandelson who became a Lord through Brown now wants to be on the EU gravy train, Blair has just bought another £1m house in London for his daughter, only Brown seems to be in the place he deserves, obscurity. If anyone believes that the next champagne socialist will be better than the last lot dream on everyone of these leadership candidates have come from a privilege background been to university never worked a day in their lives.
Anyone who votes for this party at the next election are not voting for change they are voting for the same as the Blair/Brown years, by Milibands own admission Labour had failed to do enough to change the country in its later years in power they had thirteen years to change the country for the better. Look at Labours record whenever they have ruled this country they have left it in a worse state than when they took control. The one good thing Labour did in all the thirteen years was to introduce the minimum wage that was what you call governing not the antics and stunts they pulled while in power.
Typical Labour profligacy, the country can't afford one Miliband so they have two.
David or Ed Milliband ?
They are the JEDWARDS of that there Labour Party !
Neither would look out of place in a Sixth Form common room.
UN ? White House ? 23 Balaclava Street Dudley ?
CBeebies ?
No wonder Peter Manglestorm is a tad bothered !!