ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv, hiː wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd baɪ ˈɛd mˈɪlɪbˌænd, ðə lˈiːdɚɹ ʌvðə lˈeɪbɚ pˈɑːɹɾi, tə ðə pəzˈɪʃən ʌv tʃˈɛɹmən ʌvðɪ ɛɡzˈɛkjuːtˌɪv bˈoːɹd ʌvðə pˈɑːɹɾi.
In March 2012, he was appointed by Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, to the position of chairman of the executive board of the party.