Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Move On Following Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories linked to Number 10.
Important Updates
- Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the No 10 official responsible for briefing against Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rejects future leadership plans, declaring his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective vaccine" against desiring the position again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the JLR security breach
Context
The internal controversy erupted after media stories surfaced about critical briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to dismiss the incident, the talk between the PM and the health minister apparently took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on national priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my advice to the Labour members now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a major chance to improve our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic Update
In other news, government figures showed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production sector especially affected by the recent JLR hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey