Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Briefings
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond internal tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile media stories coming from Number 10.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out future leadership aspirations, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against seeking the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the JLR security breach
Background
The political turmoil began after media stories circulated about critical briefings from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although early efforts to downplay the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on national issues rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my message to the party today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not each other.
We were given a historic mandate last July, a important chance to transform our nation. And we have a major duty.
Growth News
Separately, official data indicated the UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production industry especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England releases its latest statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on Anglesey
