Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond internal conflicts after leader Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings originating from Number 10.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the Downing Street source behind for attacking Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rules out future leadership ambitions, declaring his previous time as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the position again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political turmoil erupted after media stories emerged about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to downplay the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national issues rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my advice to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the public, not each other.
We were given a major mandate last July, a historic chance to transform our country. And we have a major obligation.
Economic News
Meanwhile, official statistics showed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production sector particularly hit by the recent JLR hack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
