Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting over damaging media stories coming from Downing Street.
Key Updates
- Miliband states Starmer will sack the Downing Street source responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any leadership aspirations, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "best vaccine" against wanting the role again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR hack
Context
The political controversy began after reports circulated about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to dismiss the situation, the conversation between the PM and Streeting reportedly took a different turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The conversation was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour members today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a major victory last summer, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth News
Separately, official statistics showed the British economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly affected by the recent JLR hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
