Ed Miliband 'seizes control of Labour's Brexit reset' as he meets French and Spanish counterparts

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 10:13, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 10:15, 29 July 2026 Ed Miliband has wrestled control of Labour's Brexit 'reset' after being named Foreign Secretary, it has emerged. He will play a 'greater role' in talks with the EU than his predecessors at the Foreign Office. Prior to Andy Burnham replacing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Labour's Brexit 'reset' was being spearheaded by the Cabinet Office. Nick Thomas-Symonds, a close ally of Sir Keir, led negotiations with Brussels on Britain forging closer ties with the bloc. But - now that he has been installed in the Foreign Office by Mr Burnham - Mr Miliband is set to have a bigger say, his department told Politico. He, together with Mr Burnham and new European Relations minister Hamish Falconer, will be more involved in the Government's EU strategy, the website reported. It comes as Mr Miliband makes his first visit to the continent as Foreign Secretary, during which he will meet his French and Spanish counterparts. He is also said to have accepted an invite to attend an EU meeting of foreign affairs ministers in September. Ed Miliband has wrestled control of Labour's Brexit 'reset' after being named Foreign Secretary, it has emerged Sir Keir made his Brexit 'reset' a key plank of his premiership and, just prior to his downfall as PM, triumphantly announced that a UK-EU summit would be held in Brussels on 22 July. But the summit was later postponed after Sir Keir eventually bowed to pressure from Labour MPs to resign following Mr Burnham's return to Westminster after winning the Makerfield by-election.  Mr Miliband's talks in Paris and Madrid are set to see him discuss potential new opportunities for British businesses to trade with the EU. The Foreign Secretary will also offer the UK's solidarity following devastating wildfires, with roughly 330,000 people having to be evacuated from France and Spain. He will meet his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris to discuss defending European security and providing ongoing support to Ukraine. The meeting will also cover securing peace in the Middle East, with co-operation on migration also expected to be raised. Mr Miliband will then head to Madrid to speak to Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares, where they will discuss the UK-EU Gibraltar treaty and collaboration on security. Climate change - a subject that Mr Miliband is passionate about after pushing his Net Zero agenda in his previous role as energy secretary - is expected to be raised at both meetings.