Beckett gives warning to Miliband

Updated 07.52 Sat Mar 31 2007

Keywords: Labour, Gordon Brown, Margaret Beckett, David Miliband

David Miliband would be a "human sacrifice" if he stood in a Labour leadership battle, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett warns.

Mrs Beckett answered speculation about Mr Miliband challenging Gordon Brown by saying: "It is complete nonsense.

"I am sure he will be a major figure in the party for a long time to come and a major contender at some time in the future" - Margaret Beckett

"He is very bright. He is a very good minister. I am sure he will be a major figure in the party for a long time to come and a major contender at some time in the future.

"But should he take this step to satisfy someone else's prejudices? He would be daft."

Mr Miliband, Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has been suggested as a potential Blairite candidate to challenge the Chancellor.

Mrs Beckett said Labour has plenty of potential leaders but added that Mr Brown is "head and shoulders" ahead of any other potential candidate to succeed Tony Blair in the summer.

She added that a contest would be "artificial" and a waste of Labour's time and money.

Mrs Beckett herself lost the 1994 leadership election to Mr Blair.