Nicholas Stern, a former chief economic adviser to the Treasury, has publicly called for Ed Miliband to be appointed chancellor, citing his competence and strategic vision to direct investment toward clean, efficient, and modern infrastructure as a driver of economic growth. Stern argued that the UK should increase spending by two to three percentage points of national income on energy, cities, and transport, and backed Miliband’s moratorium on new North Sea oil and gas drilling licences, stating that propping up old industries would divert focus from 21st-century technologies. The intervention follows existing speculation that Miliband, Wes Streeting, and Shabana Mahmood are all in contention to replace Rachel Reeves if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister this month.