David Miliband bows out of frontline UK politics

David Miliband, whose ambition to lead Britain's opposition Labour Party was thwarted by his younger brother, said on Wednesday he was stepping down from frontline politics.

Miliband, 45, a former foreign minister and one of Labour's best-known figures, said he would stay on as a member of parliament but not stand in an internal party election to Labour's leadership team, or "shadow" cabinet.

"The party needs a fresh start from its new leader, and I think that is more likely to be achieved if I make a fresh start," he said in a letter to the chairman of his constituency Labour Party branch.

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