Ed Miliband is again at the centre of Labour infighting, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly failing to control him, as a major Cabinet row erupts over Heathrow Airport expansion and other policy areas.
Miliband, appointed Foreign Secretary, has clashed with colleagues across government, according to a report. He previously rejected then-Chancellor Rachel Reeves' plan to cut green taxes on energy bills and blocked North Sea drilling, angering half the cabinet. Under Keir Starmer, he refused to leave his post in a reshuffle and later helped force Starmer out.
Heathrow expansion row
A bitter Cabinet dispute has broken out over the Heathrow Airport expansion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Chancellor John Healey and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds are said to back the £49 billion project. Miliband and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh oppose it.
Miliband, no longer Energy Secretary, has gone beyond his remit to push his personal agenda on net zero and other issues, the report claims. His new role has given him a say in everything, leading to conflicts over foreign policy, economic growth, AI and data centres.
Burnham's response
Burnham, described as feeble, has let Miliband run riot, according to the report. He has been putting off decisions while working out his own views, struggling with the scale of running a country after only Manchester.
The report suggests Miliband's influence is spreading, with the fire only set to grow. The row over Heathrow is just one flashpoint in a wider conflict within the government.
