Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond internal disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Events
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street staffer responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- Miliband rejects future leadership ambitions, saying his previous time as leader was the "most effective protection" against seeking the role again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The internal controversy began after allegations emerged about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer apologised to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The conversation was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the country, not each other.
We were given a major mandate last summer, a important opportunity to change our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth Update
In other news, government figures showed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its latest statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
