London, Nov 2 (ANI): Labour Party Deputy Leader Harriet Harman has claimed that Foreign Secretary David Miliband is out of the race for the new European Union's foreign affairs chief job.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in order to clear the way for one of his supporters to be Labour Party's next leader was secretly backing Miliband for this job.

Miliband is expected to run for the Labour leadership next year in the event of the party losing power after the general election, securing widespread support from the Blairite right of the party.

Harman insisted that the Government could not afford to lose Miliband, who had been tipped to become foreign policy chief in Brussels.

She insisted Miliband wanted to stay in Westminster. "I can see why this rumour is around. He's a politician of international standing, so I suppose it is complimentary. But we can't spare him. He is our Foreign Secretary.

"I don't think he wants to go. He has got a very important public office and we will keep him."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was still backing former premier Tony Blair for a top EU job, The Mirror reports.

He added: "David Miliband has ruled himself out. If Tony Blair ruled himself in I would be backing him." (ANI)