SIR Keir Starmer has made Ed Miliband his “big thinker” to help rebuild Labour.
The party’s new chief has asked Red Ed for election-winning ideas.
It comes five years after ex-leader Mr Miliband failed in his bid to enter No10.
Sir Keir has made him a key member of his inner circle of advisers. He believes Mr Miliband was ahead of his time when he led Labour to defeat — only to see the Tories rip off some of his most popular policies.
Mr Miliband’s plans included the national minimum wage, a focus on apprenticeships and a cap on energy bills. But millionaire Sir Keir, 57, is unlikely to follow his ally’s most disastrous idea — engraving his vision on an 8ft slab of marble.
Labour’s 2015 election campaign became a laughing stock after nearly £8,000 was spent on the “Ed Stone”.
Mr Miliband, 50, was given a surprise Shadow Cabinet recall after Sir Keir became leader three weeks ago.
He will be his right-hand man as well as being spokesman on the party’s business, energy and industrial strategy.
He will be at the heart of all key meetings and be thrust back into TV limelight.
A party source said: “Ed is not just a campaigner, he is also a big political thinker.”
But an ex-minister said: “It’s like asking the manager of a football team that’s just been relegated for advice on how to win the Premier League.”
