Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over negative briefings originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for targeting Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects future party leader plans, stating his previous time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The political controversy began after allegations circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial attempts to minimize the incident, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour party now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a historic opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official figures showed the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially impacted by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
