DAVID Miliband was forced to deny plotting against his brother amid claims of an ongoing feud over the Labour leadership.

The former foreign secretary called for the party to unite behind Ed, dismissing reports that he was hoping for him to fail as “soap opera”.

“I have moved on from the leadership election and so should everyone else,” Mr Miliband said in a statement. “Ed won, I stand fully behind him and so should everyone else.

“I called for unity last October and I repeat that now.”

The latest wave of speculation over the relationship has been sparked by an unauthorised biography alleging the fallout from last year’s contest was far worse than admitted publicly.

David is said to have effectively accused his younger brother of lying about his conduct in the contest last year. The revelations have fuelled doubts about Mr Miliband’s future as party leader amid criticism of his performance against David Cameron.

Last week’s leak of a text of the victory address David Miliband planned to deliver – admitting Labour’s economic stewardship had been flawed – did nothing to dampen rumours of divisions.

But in his statement yesterday the elder sibling insisted: “We all have our part to play in supporting Ed and the frontbench team to ensure we expose this Government for its reckless policies that are damaging the country.

“The rest is soap opera of which I want no part and the public have no interest.”

Ed will try to get back on track today with a keynote speech acknowledging that some voters see the party as having encouraged a “take-what- you-can approach” among benefit scroungers and millionaire bankers.