Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond internal disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street official behind for attacking Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary rejects future leadership ambitions, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against desiring the position again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, affected by the JLR hack
Context
The political turmoil began after reports circulated about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to dismiss the matter, the talk between Starmer and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national matters rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my advice to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a historic election win last summer, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a historic duty.
Growth News
Separately, government statistics indicated the UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry especially affected by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its latest data
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
