LONDON (Bywire News) - Starmer was elected leader on Saturday, pledging to bring an end to years of bitter infighting and to work with the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Labour leader for nearly 5 years, Miliband resigned after his party suffered a heavy election defeat in May 2015 but has remained a member of parliament since, often speaking in debates on energy and climate change. He served as government minister for energy and climate change from October 2008 to May 2010.

"We must all focus on playing our part in the country's response to coronavirus, working with the government to help the many businesses and workers who have been so badly hit and need their voice heard," Miliband said in a statement on Twitter, adding he was looking forward to working with Starmer.

"We cannot go back to business as usual after this crisis. We will need to reshape our economy, addressing the insecurity many millions of workers face. We must also return to climate change as the unavoidable long-term issue of our time."

A sometimes awkward figure, Miliband was often ridiculed as a geek by sections of the press during his time as Labour leader, and presented as a liability to his party by his Conservative opponent David Cameron.

Miliband was the surprise winner in Labour's 2010 leadership election, beating his older and better-known brother David thanks to support from trade unions that earned him the nickname "Red Ed".

Starmer also gave his two leadership rivals positions in his team, appointing Rebecca Long-Bailey as education spokeswoman and Lisa Nandy as spokeswoman on foreign affairs.

The full shadow cabinet:

Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition

Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Labour Party

Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer

Lisa Nandy, Shadow Foreign Secretary

Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Home Secretary

Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

David Lammy, Shadow Justice Secretary

John Healey, Shadow Defence Secretary

Ed Miliband, Shadow Business, Energy and Industrial Secretary

Emily Thornberry, Shadow International Trade Secretary

Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary

Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Education Secretary

Jo Stevens, Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary

Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Luke Pollard, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary

Steve Reed, Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary

Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Housing Secretary

Jim McMahon, Shadow Transport Secretary

Preet Kaur Gill, Shadow International Development Secretary

Louise Haigh, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary (interim)

Ian Murray, Shadow Scotland Secretary

Nia Griffith, Shadow Wales Secretary

Marsha de Cordova, Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary

Andy McDonald, Shadow Employment Rights and Protections Secretary

Rosena Allin-Khan, Shadow Minister for Mental Health

Cat Smith, Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Engagement

Lord Falconer, Shadow Attorney General

Valerie Vaz, Shadow Leader of the House

Nick Brown, Opposition Chief Whip

Baroness Smith, Shadow Leader of the Lords

Lord McAvoy, Lords’ Opposition Chief Whip

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, Michael O'Sullivan; editing by Stephen Addison, Michael O'Sullivan)

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