Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings originating from Number 10.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will fire the Downing Street source responsible for targeting Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future leadership ambitions, declaring his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against desiring the role again
- UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Situation
The political unrest began after reports emerged about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Despite initial attempts to minimize the matter, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a more serious direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on national matters rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been bad, no question.
But my message to the party now is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a major mandate last July, a historic chance to improve our country. And we have a major obligation.
Growth Update
In other news, government statistics revealed the British economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial industry especially impacted by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its latest statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
