Despite declaring his atheism, Mr Miliband says he does plan to marry his partner of five years Justine Thornton, who his heavily pregnant with their second child…

Ed Miliband said: ‘I don’t believe in God personally but I have great respect for those people who do. Different people have different religious views in this country.

‘The great thing is that we are all, whether we have faith of not, we are by and large very tolerant of people whatever their particular view.’