He turned up his nose at the idea of becoming British ambassador in Washington, and discussions about making TV programmes for the BBC have come to little.
But today it can be revealed that former foreign secretary and failed Labour leadership challenger David Miliband is to return to his old school as he attempts to carve out his future.
Five months after defeat at the hands of brother Ed, Mr Miliband, 45, is set to confirm he will become a volunteer politics teacher at Haverstock School in Chalk Farm.
He has been in talks with head John Dowd and an announcement is expected in the next 48 hours. Mr Miliband is likely to teach for about one to two hours a week. He attended Haverstock from 1978 to 1983, after Primrose Hill primary and before Oxford.
His political education was aided with a spell at Ken Livingstone's Greater London Council and he went on to work in Tony Blair's private office before becoming an MP and rising rapidly through the ranks.
At Haverstock, also attended by Ed, he counted novelist Zoë Heller as a classmate while former Labour MP Oona King was a contemporary.
Judging by his record as a schoolboy, Mr Miliband may make a competent teacher — if not a cool one. “He was in-credibly straight, fantastically square,” an Oxford contemporary claimed. “He had this pudding bowl haircut. The rest of the north London set regarded him with affection. He was the boffin.”
Mr Miliband recently recalled “interminably difficult A-level physics” in which he got a D, as one of four A-levels. He added: “I have memories of a remarkable headteacher who taught English and was a deadeye with the chalkboard rubber, which he could chuck across the room at anyone in that mixed-ability English class and bullseye'.”
Oscar Gregan, who taught Mr Miliband maths, told the Camden New Journal last year: “When I joined in 1979, I remember meeting this tiny little kid called David.
“David was not a natural, geeky mathematician — Ed was more like that — but he was a lively, active student who developed a good mastery of maths. He was articulate and had a strong presence. He showed brilliant attention to detail, and a great sense of tenacity.”
Last month Mr Miliband quashed talk of a move to America, tweeting: “Seen the UK ambassador to US rumours. I am not in for it and wouldn't take it.”
Today Haverstock was facing an Ofsted inspection, leaving Mr Dowd too busy to speak.
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