Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Move On Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind party tensions after leader Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories linked to Number 10.
Major Events
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out any leadership ambitions, saying his past time as leader was the "best vaccine" against wanting the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR hack
Background
The internal controversy began after reports circulated about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to minimize the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting according to sources took a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning media interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on national matters rather than internal disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last July, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a major responsibility.
Growth News
Separately, official data revealed the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector particularly impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
