Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting over negative media stories coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Events
- Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street official behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects future leadership ambitions, saying his previous time as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The political unrest started after reports circulated about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although early attempts to dismiss the incident, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national matters rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my advice to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a historic duty.
Growth News
Separately, government statistics showed the UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England issues its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
