Ed Miliband admits Keir Starmer is 'definitely' going to be a better Labour Party leader than he was

Former Labour chief returned to front bench in April as new boss replaced Jeremy Corbyn

Ed Miliband has admitted that Keir Starmer is "definitely" going to be a better leader of the Labour Party than he was.

The shadow business secretary did not hesitate in conceding the superiority of his current boss when he was confronted by interviewer Andrew Marr with the "slightly mean question" of who ranked higher in the leadership ratings.

He pointed to Starmer's approval ratings, which this weekend saw him outstrip Boris Johnson in one opinion poll as voters' preferred choice as prime minister.

At the conclusion of an interview on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, the host said he had "one slightly mean question to end with”.

Mr Miliband replied: “Gosh yes, go on, you’ve asked me many mean questions over the years.”

Marr said: “Here’s another one. You’ve seen Keir Starmer now in operation for a few months - Is he going to be a better leader of the Labour Party than you?”

Mr Miliband replied: “Definitely. I think you’ve seen that already.”

He laughed as he added: “Look, I certainly never had his approval ratings.

“I think he’s made a great start. I think he’s shown not just competence but the kind of seriousness that this crisis demands.

“I think the more people see of him the more they’ll see the integrity, the principle and decency I know really well.”

Mr Miliband defeated his brother David to become Labour leader in 2010, and resigned the job in 2015 in the aftermath his party’s crushing general election defeat.

Despite polls suggesting he was in with a chance of replacing David Cameron in Downing Street, Mr Miliband saw his party lose 26 seats and suffer near-wipeout in Scotland as the Tories secured a surprise overall majority of 12.

The former energy secretary returned to the backbenches during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership before Sir Keir made him shadow business secretary in April this year.