Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Move On After Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party tensions after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Major Updates
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 source responsible for attacking Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out future party leader plans, stating his past experience as Labour leader was the "best protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The internal controversy erupted after reports circulated about hostile background comments from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although early efforts to minimize the matter, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister reportedly followed a more serious direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, journalists have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to focus on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a important opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth News
In other news, government statistics showed the British economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
