Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative media stories linked to Downing Street.
Key Events
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for targeting Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband dismisses future party leader plans, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against wanting the position again
- UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The internal unrest erupted after allegations circulated about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to minimize the matter, the conversation between the PM and the health minister according to sources took a different direction.
Starmer apologised to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to focus on national issues rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, certainly.
But my advice to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to prioritize the country, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last summer, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic Update
Meanwhile, government figures revealed the UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the production industry particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England issues its latest data
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
