Miliband joins Berlin bash and sets tongues wagging

Will he, won't he? The BBC is claiming that Foreign Secretary David Miliband has definitely rejected the opportunity to become the EU 'high representative' under the terms of the Lisbon treaty, preferring to remain in British politics, whatever the future may hold.

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson says that with a difficult general election on the horizon, Miliband has been warned by friends that if he quits Westminster for Brussels now he would be portrayed as "a rat leaving a sinking ship".

So far, Miliband has let it be known that he is not "available" for the job while Gordon Brown has said he will not nominate Miliband for it on the basis that he doesn't want it.

Elsewhere, however, speculation that Miliband will accept the post as Europe's foreign minister - making him one of the most powerful figures in Europe and on the world stage - grew yesterday when he cancelled an engagement in London and took a last-minute flight to join EU leaders in Berlin [see News in Pictures].

They were there to join Chancellor Angela Merkel on a symbolic walk through the Brandenburg Gate to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. But they were also taking the opportunity to discuss who should become their first president and high representative.

A British diplomat told the Times that Miliband had been invited by Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister. This could be significant, says observers, because anyone wanting the job must be nominated by one member country. If Brown isn't able to nominate Miliband, will the Germans? They have made it clear they are not keen on Tony Blair as EU president, but Miliband is another matter. ·