Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind party conflicts after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out any leadership ambitions, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest inoculation" against wanting the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The political unrest began after reports emerged about hostile briefings from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to downplay the matter, the discussion between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a different turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the media briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant election win last July, a important chance to change our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
In other news, government data showed the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey