Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Briefings
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond internal tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile media stories linked to Downing Street.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street staffer responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out any party leader aspirations, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The internal turmoil began after allegations surfaced about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial attempts to minimize the incident, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting according to sources took a more serious direction.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, no question.
But my advice to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not each other.
We were given a major election win last July, a major chance to improve our country. And we have a major duty.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official figures revealed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly data
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
