**Foreign Secretary David Miliband has rejected the chance to become EU high representative, the BBC understands.**He was seen as a frontrunner for the foreign affairs job, one of two created by the EU Treaty, but has insisted he is not “available” to be a candidate.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband had told the head of the European socialists’ group on Sunday he was not interested in the job.
Foreign secretary since 2007, he has been touted as a future Labour leader.
He has been campaigning hard for former PM Tony Blair to get the other job created by the Lisbon Treaty, that of president of the European Council.
But there have been suggestions that Mr Miliband might be in the running for the foreign affairs role if Mr Blair fails to be selected for the job of president.
The foreign secretary had responded to speculation he might take the job of EU high representative for foreign affairs by saying he was not “available” to be a candidate but had not ruled out taking it if it was offered.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he understood Mr Miliband had told the president of the centre-left grouping in the European Parliament that he was not interested in the job when they met on Sunday.