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Miliband discovers lost relative on Russian radio show
08.10.09
Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband was unexpectedly reunited with a long-lost relative during a trip to Russia.
Mr Miliband was taking questions on a Moscow radio show when an elderly woman claimed in Russian: "I am Sofia Davidovna Miliband, I am your relative; I am the only one left."
Although radio staff were initially concerned that the call was a hoax, Mr Miliband went to meet the 87-year-old former academic.
The pair worked out, with the aid of translators, that Mr Miliband's great great grandfather was the brother of Sofia's grandfather, who were both born in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw in Poland.
Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 4's PM programme it had been a "magical experience" and said his relative was "an amazing woman".
"It's great, and a very moving and fantastic experience for me," he said.
"I did sort of vaguely know when I was a kid about her existence. The way I know about it, if you look on a library computer her name pops up.
"I've always slightly wondered about her ever since I was a kid, it was just amazing for me to come face to face with her and she really thought it was a great thing."
Mr Miliband said Sofia had not been particularly impressed by his position, nor that of brother David who is Foreign Secretary.
But he did get a photograph to show other relatives and pledged to be in regular contact with her.
He added: "I think she was much less interested in what David or I do than in making the family connection and realising she wasn't the last Miliband around and that there was a branch of the family in Britain."
Reader views (4)
He seems to have forgotten to state when on Radio yesterday the real background roots of his family.We understand they were persecuted from following their religious beliefs.Looking forward to Milliband brothers further comments.
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK
Perhaps his elderly relative could teach this neo-communist commissar a few home truths about life under Socio-fascist (yes folks, Fascism IS an extreme left-wing form of wing socialism)tyranny.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
so we're paying for this clown to fly to Moscow for what exactly? Very nice that he met his relatives in Eastern Europe, he and his gormless brother can move there after the election.
- Jon, london
Climate Change Secretary? I am amazed the government has created this post. In any case, shouldn't it be called "Tax Increase Strategy Secretary?"
- Ed, London
