Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party disputes after PM Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative briefings coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Updates
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will fire the No 10 staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any leadership plans, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the role again
- UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR hack
Situation
The political controversy began after allegations circulated about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to minimize the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting according to sources followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on national priorities rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my message to the Labour members now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a major election win last July, a important opportunity to improve our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
Separately, official figures showed the British economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly affected by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its regular media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
