MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - David Miliband, a former head of the British Foreign Office, is planning to step down as a member of the parliament and move to the United States to lead a charity organization there, BBC reported on Wednesday citing his close friend.
According to the agency, Miliband, 47, who was beaten to the leadership of the Labour Party in 2010 by his brother Ed, will be taking charge of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in New York.
The charity organization, founded in 1933 and operating in 40 countries, says on its website that its primary task is to “respond to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and help people to survive and rebuild their lives.”
Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps described the decision of MIliband, who headed the Foreign Office in 2007-2010, as “surprising.”
“He has contributed a great deal to British politics and we wish him well,” Shapps was quoted as saying.
Miliband’s fellow Labour Party’s MPs expressed sadness over his plans to leave the parliament.
“Stunned by the news about David Miliband. A huge loss to British politics. The best and the brightest leaving the country,” Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, was quoted as saying.
Daily Mirror earlier reported that Miliband was going to announce his decision personally on Wednesday morning.
