Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside party tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Developments
- Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 source behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband dismisses any leadership aspirations, declaring his past experience as leader was the "most effective vaccine" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political controversy began after allegations circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although early attempts to minimize the matter, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on national priorities rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my call to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to prioritize the country, not each other.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a major chance to change our nation. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth Update
Separately, official statistics indicated the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the production sector particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
