Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Look Ahead Following Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings coming from Number 10.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for targeting Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any party leader aspirations, declaring his previous experience as Labour leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The internal controversy started after media stories circulated about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to minimize the situation, the talk between the PM and Streeting according to sources took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was concise, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not each other.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a historic chance to transform our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth Update
In other news, official data revealed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector especially affected by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
