Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories originating from Downing Street.
Key Updates
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street official responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any leadership ambitions, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the JLR hack
Context
The internal unrest started after media stories surfaced about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Despite initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the discussion between the PM and Streeting reportedly followed a different turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide issues rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a major victory last summer, a major opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a major obligation.
Growth News
Separately, government figures indicated the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the production industry especially hit by the recently reported JLR security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly data
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
