THE crowning of Ed Miliband as Labour leader was welcomed by his partner’s proud grandparents who described him as “a sweetie”.

The couple, who live in St John’s, Worcester, said they were thrilled and delighted after Mr Miliband won the leadership contest on Saturday.

In a narrow win, he beat his older brother David, initially seen as the favourite, by securing 50.65 per cent of the vote.

Mr Miliband, aged 40, the former climate change secretary, also saw off competition from candidates Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott, who were eliminated in earlier rounds, to take the coveted prize of leader of the Opposition.

Dr John James and wife Betty, of Hanbury Park Road, off Malvern Road, are grandparents to Mr Miliband’s partner of six years Justine Thornton, a barrister.

Mrs James said: “We are very pleased for him and our granddaughter.

“He’s a sweetie, a very nice man. It’s very exciting but it’s hard on his brother David.” She said that she would like to see the couple in Downing Street although Mr Miliband’s politics were not of her “persuasion”. The news was also welcomed by Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour leader on Worcester City Council.

He said: “I think it’s a good thing that we’ve got a leader who can focus on what we will do next.

“What we are now looking forward to is getting together behind Ed and campaigning against the demolition cuts.”

Mr Gregson said Mr Miliband had gained a wide range of support across the party which would serve him well in the future.

We previously reported in your Worcester News how the city’s Labour party had backed David Miliband to be leader.