Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward After Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
Senior Labour official Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Key Developments
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 official behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses future leadership aspirations, stating his previous experience as Labour leader was the "best protection" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Background
The internal unrest started after reports circulated about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to minimize the matter, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a different turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The exchange was concise, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last July, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Economic Update
In other news, official figures indicated the UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
