Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile media stories originating from Downing Street.
Major Updates
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 official behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out future party leader plans, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "strongest inoculation" against desiring the role again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Context
The political controversy erupted after reports circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to downplay the incident, the discussion between the PM and the health minister according to sources took a different turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide matters rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the briefing has been bad, certainly.
But my message to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a major mandate last July, a important chance to change our country. And we have a major obligation.
Growth News
Separately, government statistics revealed the British economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Today: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
