So David Miliband will not be taking up a position in Brussels as the EUs first High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the Unions first Foreign Minister in all but name.

His decision to tough it out in Westminster instantly rekindled speculation about his leadership ambitions, this in turn has has prompted a vociferous article by Daniel Finkelstein in today’s Times, he writes:

“The Lisbon treaty is your work as much as anyone’s. You pushed it through and you told everyone that it really mattered. You’ve been making speeches on the importance of the new job as EU foreign minister. You’ve said it is an essential tool of influence. Yet now — now — you tell me that you don’t actually want to do it yourself.”

Yet now — now — you tell me that you don’t actually want to do it yourself. You don’t mind if we get someone less Atlanticist and less pro free trade. It isn’t as important to you that Britain gets the right EU foreign minister as it is that you remain a viable Labour leadership candidate.

Clearly Mr Miliband wants the Labour leadership. He may publicly back Gordon Brown, but we all know that he want the top job, you just have to look at his first attempt to destabilise Brown in July last year. In his article, Finkelstein argues that rather than being the saviour of the Labour party, he’s not up to the job of leading the opposition.

“One other thing you need to think about. Would you, actually, be any good as opposition leader? I hold you in high regard. We don’t always agree (I thought your stance on the Lisbon treaty was outrageous, whereas you thought mine was idiotic), but I think you bring a fierce intelligence to your work. And if I discuss a political issue with you I need to be on my mettle. Yet this isn’t the same as being a successful candidate for prime minister, as my old boss William Hague discovered.

I think you would have to agree that your happiest and most successful moments have, ahem, not always coincided with your appearances in the limelight. You would be under huge pressure as Labour leader. Trying to hold off the Left, revive the party, be a convincing public figure when the media and public entertain doubts. For all your talent, it might not end well.’

Finkelstein is right to point out the similarities between Mr Miliband and William Hague. Let’s not forget that he was at the side of Hague during some his most turbulent times, and saw first hand that a sharp intellect is not enough to get a candidate elected to the top job.