Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Major Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future leadership plans, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective vaccine" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The political controversy started after reports emerged about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to minimize the situation, the talk between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national priorities rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, certainly.
But my advice to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the country, not each other.
We were given a major mandate last summer, a major opportunity to improve our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official statistics revealed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production sector particularly affected by the recently reported JLR hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
