Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging briefings originating from Number 10.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street source behind for briefing against Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future party leader aspirations, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "best vaccine" against desiring the role again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The internal unrest started after media stories surfaced about negative briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a different direction.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, reporters have been informed. The exchange was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide matters rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, without doubt.
But my message to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic election win last July, a important chance to change our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth Update
Separately, official statistics revealed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial industry especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly data
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
