There have been multiple briefings over the past few weeks about David Miliband’s potential return to the fold. The better brother was said to be in the running for Mandelson’s new job, and talk has made it to the Express today that he is tipped by some for a role in Westminster. Trump may be responsible…
With the new Trump administration working to cut down USAID which it says is “beyond repair,” funding has been frozen for the International Rescue Committee. The humanitarian aid charity has been run by Miliband, its president and chief executive, since 2013. In 2023 the IRC got $587 million from US federal and local agencies, part of which came from USAID. The IRC says the running of its programmes is “at present levels is dependent upon continued funding from these organizations and from United Nations and European agencies.” If they are going to rely on Europe and the UK for money they may look at shaving some of their CEO’s salary…
According to the latest figures Miliband is on a salary of £983,073 and got a £117,701.25 bonus last year – something IRC staff said was “demoralising.” As Trump (joined by Milei) concurrently pulls out of the World Health Organisation Starmer has ramped up UK funding of the organisation. Will Dave persuade the PM to stump up for his bumper pay package, or jump ship for a cosy job with Labour?
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”