Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile leaked comments originating from Downing Street.
Important Developments
- Miliband states Starmer will dismiss the No 10 source responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses future party leader ambitions, stating his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest vaccine" against wanting the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The political controversy erupted after allegations emerged about negative briefings from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to downplay the matter, the discussion between the PM and Streeting according to sources followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on national issues rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my call to the party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a major opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official data indicated the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly affected by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its latest statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
