Miliband had been touted by European leaders as the leading contender for the post of the European Union's High Representative, the bloc's spokesman on defense and foreign affairs.

Leaders of the European Union will choose the bloc's first permanent president and new foreign policy chief at a meeting in Brussels on Nov. 19.

"I came into British politics to serve the British people in Britain," Miliband told reporters at a press conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

"When I said I was not a candidate for the High Representative job I meant it, I am committed to Britain and I am committed to the Labour government," he said.

Miliband has long been tipped as a likely successor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as leader of the governing Labour Party, and said he was reluctant to quit domestic politics ahead of an election.

"There will be a general election in this country within a matter of months _ it is a massive choice for the country," Miliband said. "And so when the choice came to me about whether to stay in Britain or leave Britain, there was only one answer _ it is to stay and fight for the kind of Britain I believe in."

Brown's Labour is widely expected to be ousted by the main opposition Conservatives, meaning it would lose office for the first time since 1997.

Miliband said he was "deeply honored" to have been considered for a European job _ but that he suspected some had pushed his name forward "as some kind of torpedo on the Blair candidacy," referring to ex-British leader Tony Blair's hopes of becoming the bloc's president.

Both Brown and Miliband are campaigning for Blair to become president, despite a lack of support in other European capitals.

Miliband said Europe needs "an articulate and persuasive President of the European Council," and will holds talks with counterparts to win backing for Blair. "That discussion still has eight days to run and eight days is a long time in politics," Miliband said.

Westerwelle declined to comment on Germany's favored candidates for the roles.

Britain's Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, an ex-EU trade commissioner, has also dismissed claims he could be put forward as a candidate to become High Representative. "I had my spell in Brussels, now I am home for good," he said.