David Miliband has one key message in his first interview as foreign secretary: Britain will not retreat from being a global player. Now that Tony Blair has been replaced by Gordon Brown in Downing Street, some may be tempted to believe a prime minister with a world vision has given way to one focused on domestic challenges.

But Mr Miliband, 10 days into his job, insists this new government will not withdraw to the foreign policy sidelines. “Britain must not retreat from the world,” he tells the Financial Times. “Some countries are having great debates about whether they want to be part of a globalised world. The very, very strong desire and imperative that I bring to this office is that now is not the time for Britain to retreat.”