Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal conflicts after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile media stories linked to Downing Street.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will sack the Downing Street source responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership aspirations, saying his previous time as leader was the "most effective vaccine" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the JLR security breach
Context
The political turmoil erupted after media stories emerged about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the incident, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The exchange was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to focus on national matters rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last July, a important opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Economic News
Separately, official figures revealed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
