Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal disputes after PM Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer behind for targeting Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future leadership plans, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the position again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political controversy started after media stories surfaced about negative briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting reportedly took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The exchange was concise, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national matters rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the Labour party now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last July, a important chance to improve our nation. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth Update
In other news, government data showed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production industry especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest data
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey