Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party tensions after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Events
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 official behind for targeting Wes Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any leadership aspirations, declaring his past time as leader was the "most effective protection" against wanting the role again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR hack
Context
The internal unrest started after media stories circulated about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to downplay the situation, the talk between Starmer and Streeting reportedly took a different direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on national priorities rather than internal conflicts.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a significant victory last July, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, official figures indicated the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recently reported JLR hack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
