Ed Miliband: Being ‘very ruthless’ opposition leader but Sir Keir Starmer is ‘up to the task’ | Political news

Ed Miliband backed Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, telling Sky News that being Leader of the Opposition is “a very ruthless job” but “I know he lives up to it”.

Mr Miliband, who served as leader of the opposition from 2010 to 2015, said Sir keir had assumed the Labor leadership under the “most extraordinary and difficult circumstances” of the COVID-19[female[feminine pandemic.

The Labor leader has come under pressure in recent days, following the party’s mixed performance in elections across the UK last week in his first electoral test since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn in 2020.

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While there were bright spots for the job – including getting a working majority in Wales and keeping a number of town halls – the loss of Hartlepool sparked recriminations within the party.

The defeat to the Tories in a seat that has been reliably red for decades – the Labor Party has held the seat since its formation in the 1970s – has led to calls for a change in approach from Sir Keir.

And there was the fury of many when the Labor leader sacked his deputy, Angela Rayner, as party chair before a shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Ms Rayner was later appointed Shadow First Secretary of State, Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mr Miliband, who resigned as Labor leader after the 2015 general election and is now part of Sir Keir’s front-line team as shadow business secretary, backed him up.

“He’s only been in the job for a year. In a way, give the guy a chance,” he said.

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“You don’t give the final whistle on the game a third of the way through the …