Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind internal conflicts after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments linked to Downing Street.
Major Developments
- Miliband states Starmer will fire the No 10 staffer behind for targeting Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rules out any party leader ambitions, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Context
The internal unrest started after media stories surfaced about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the situation, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting reportedly took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning broadcast appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, no question.
But my message to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a major obligation.
Growth News
Meanwhile, government figures revealed the UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production sector particularly impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England releases its monthly data
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
