LONDON — Andy Burnham named Ed Miliband as the United Kingdom's foreign secretary. Miliband arrived at Downing Street for a cabinet meeting on the same day to assume his new responsibilities.

Ed Miliband stated on X/Twitter that his parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. He described the appointment and his family history in a post on the social media platform.

His parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. To them, Britain was both a sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the global fight against fascism. He said he would carry his parents’ faith in that spirit of Britain to his role representing the country.

Miliband is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the British government. He has no Jewish religious practice or formal Jewish education.

The role of foreign secretary was previously held by Ed Miliband's brother, David Miliband. David Miliband is the president of the International Rescue Committee. He said being named foreign secretary was the "honor of my life." He outlined his priorities for the position in a statement released on July 21.

He said today, as the world faces greater instability and threat to international law and democracy than at any time since the Second World War, these values are more important than ever. From Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East, time and again the consequences of a more dangerous world have been seen in the cost of living crisis that families and businesses face.

For Britain, that means working with others to defend the principles that are cherished, because it is in the national interest to do so, building on the excellent work of predecessors and friends, he added.

He pledged to be a foreign secretary who fights for Britain’s interests and its values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage. He also committed to engaging with key international partners. He pledged to nurture the strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States. Marco Rubio is the U.S. Secretary of State.

Ed Miliband's mother, Marion Kozak, died in June. She was an early supporter of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, a British group advocating for Palestinian rights, but ceased public activism as her sons advanced in British politics.

Ed Miliband led the Labour Party in opposition from 2010 to 2015. He defeated his brother David in the Labour Party leadership race in 2010.

Jeremy Corbyn succeeded Ed Miliband as Labour Party leader. During Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party (2015-2020), relations between the party and the Jewish community reached their worst in decades due to perceived insensitivity to Jewish concerns, a period he later criticized.

He served as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero from July 2024 to July 2026. He served as energy secretary under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He stated in 2017 that Donald Trump had "lowered the bar for idiocy." Keir Starmer served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2024 to 2026.

The appointment places Ed Miliband, a former Labour Party leader and energy secretary, in charge of British foreign policy during a period of significant global instability. As the highest-ranking Jewish official in the British government, his background as the child of refugees informs his stated commitment to defending democratic values and international law.

The role carries historical weight within his family, as his brother David previously held the position before leading the International Rescue Committee. His tenure begins with a focus on strengthening alliances, including with the United States, while navigating conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that impact domestic economic conditions.