Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside party conflicts after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Updates
- Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street source responsible for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out future leadership ambitions, stating his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against desiring the position again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political unrest started after media stories emerged about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the situation, the conversation between the PM and Streeting according to sources took a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour members today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious duty.
Growth Update
Separately, government data revealed the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its regular media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
