Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal tensions after PM Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative media stories coming from Downing Street.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street source behind for targeting Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband dismisses any leadership ambitions, stating his previous time as leader was the "best protection" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the JLR hack
Context
The internal unrest began after allegations circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to minimize the matter, the talk between the PM and Streeting apparently followed a different turn.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my advice to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major mandate last July, a important chance to improve our nation. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth News
Meanwhile, government statistics indicated the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
