DAVID MILIBAND quit frontline politics last night, ending an extraordinary four-day family drama sparked by his younger brother snatching the Labour leadership from his grasp.

The defeated candidate released a statement announcing he would not stand for the Shadow Cabinet, insisting his departure was the only way Ed Miliband would enjoy the freedom to set his “own direction, priorities and policies”.

The elder Miliband – who has been described as psychologically shattered by defeat – scotched rumours that he would also leave Westminster, expressing his determination to represent South Shields “for many years to come”.

He pledged to support his 40-year-old brother’s attempts to lead Labour back to power, but added: “I think I can best support him from the backbenches.”

Mr Miliband wrote: “This is now Ed’s party to lead and he needs to be able to do so as free as possible from distraction.

“Any new leader needs time and space to set his or her own direction, priorities and policies. I believe this will be harder if there is constant comparison with my comments and position as a member of the Shadow Cabinet.

“I genuinely fear perpetual, distracting and destructive attempts to find division where there is none and splits where they don’t exist, all to the detriment of the party’s cause.

Ed needs a free hand but also an open field.”

Ed Miliband described the decision as “thoughtful and gracious” and said: “My door is always open for him to serve in the future, either in opposition or back in government.”

The decision had appeared inevitable after David Miliband – the longtime favourite to win the leadership – laid bare his emotions at losing the prize to his brother by a waferthin margin of 1.3 per cent.

During Ed’s conference speech, a TV camera recorded David Miliband apparently criticising his brother’s denunciation of the invasion of Iraq, turning to deputy leader Harriet Harman and saying: “You voted for it. Why are you clapping?”

The Shadow Foreign Secretary left Manchester immediately after the speech and announced his decision to step down from his north London home.

The statement gave few clues as to his next move, but there will inevitably be speculation that he will leave British politics if a significant job – perhaps for the European Union – comes up in the next few years.

Expressing a wish to “recharge my political and intellectual batteries”, Mr Miliband wrote: “There’s a world out there that I have touched, but about which I want to know more.”

He also spoke of spending more time with his boys, Isaac and Jacob, saying: “One happy consequence of the leadership election will be more time with Louise and the boys.”

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Miliband said his reaction to his brother’s leadership speech had merely been a “wry eyebrow”, and complained he would be criticised for the “merest sneeze, or body language, or comment”.

Asked if his many supporters deserved better than for him to walk away, he replied: “I’m not dead, remember. I am there for the Labour Party.” He said he was stepping down “for the foreseeable future”.

The announcement came on the day the North-East’s other senior Labour figure, chief whip Nick Brown, was forced out by the new leader.

In a letter, Ed Miliband said he had “huge regard and respect” for the Newcastle East MP, but added: “The election of a new leader is a time for a fresh start and that’s why I am grateful to you for agreeing to step aside.”

The move was seen as an olive branch offered to Blairites in the party, who have long resented the presence of a Gordon Brown supporter viewed as tribal and divisive.

The 49-strong list of Shadow Cabinet contenders includes Kevan Jones (Durham North), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland), Iain Wright (Hartlepool) and Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham).