Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 official behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any leadership plans, stating his previous experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against desiring the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The political turmoil began after media stories emerged about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my advice to the Labour members today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the country, not each other.
We were given a historic mandate last July, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious duty.
Economic Update
Separately, government figures showed the UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
