Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party tensions after leader Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Events
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street staffer responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out future leadership plans, declaring his previous time as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The political unrest began after reports surfaced about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to minimize the situation, the talk between Starmer and the health minister according to sources took a different direction.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been bad, no question.
But my call to the Labour party now is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last July, a major opportunity to change our country. And we have a historic duty.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government figures indicated the British economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
