Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over hostile briefings coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Updates
- Miliband declares Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer responsible for targeting Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out any leadership plans, stating his previous time as Labour leader was the "strongest vaccine" against desiring the position again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The internal turmoil started after media stories emerged about hostile background comments from Starmer's team targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to dismiss the situation, the discussion between the PM and Streeting apparently followed a different direction.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my call to the party now is clear, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last July, a important opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
Separately, government statistics revealed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry particularly hit by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
