Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Events
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the Downing Street official responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rejects future party leader plans, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "strongest protection" against seeking the position again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Context
The political controversy began after reports surfaced about negative background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to dismiss the matter, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting according to sources followed a more serious turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been advised. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to focus on national issues rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a major opportunity to change our country. And we have a historic duty.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, official data revealed the British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry especially impacted by the recent JLR security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England releases its latest data
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the Britain's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
