David Miliband: Labour Loss Was 'Worst Fear'

David Miliband has said his "worst fears were confirmed" when Labour was defeated in last month's General Election under his brother's leadership.

The former foreign secretary also described his "frustration and anger" at what a Conservative-only government will mean for the UK, but insisted he did not want Ed Miliband to be hurt or vilified over the Labour Party's performance in the polls.

Speaking to The Times, the ex-MP, who now lives in New York and runs the International Rescue Committee charity, added: "There is no consolation in any sense of vindication, frankly, because I care about the country and I care about the party."

Meanwhile, in a TV interview, Mr Miliband said the party had "to reflect on the very clear lessons of two devastating electoral defeats, which have come for a very clear reason".

He suggested the Opposition had "turned the page backward rather than turning the page forward" – and had failed to build on the strengths, and remedy the weaknesses, of the Blair era.

"I think it is the responsibility of all the candidates to find again that combination of economic dynamism and social justice that defined the success of the Labour Party in the 1990s and early 2000s," he told CNN.

Mr Miliband also warned the party "needs to catch up with the way Britain has changed and the way politics has changed" – praising Labour's local government leaders in northern cities who are making their voices heard.

His interviews come as the deadline for nominations to replace Ed Miliband as Labour leader fast approaches.

Although Andy Burnham, Liz Kendall and Yvette Cooper have secured the 35 supporters required to reach the final ballot, two other hopefuls – Mary Creagh and Jeremy Corbyn – have failed to meet the threshold so far.

All three frontrunners were jeered by GMB union activists during hustings yesterday, after they refused to speak out against Conservative plans to introduce a £23,000 annual cap on benefits.