Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over negative media stories linked to Downing Street.
Important Events
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the No 10 source responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband dismisses future party leader aspirations, saying his previous experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The political unrest erupted after reports emerged about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the matter, the conversation between the PM and the health minister apparently took a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on country-wide matters rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my advice to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic mandate last July, a major opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic News
Meanwhile, official data showed the UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's first small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
