Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the No 10 staffer behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership ambitions, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against desiring the position again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political turmoil erupted after allegations circulated about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite initial efforts to dismiss the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my call to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic election win last summer, a historic opportunity to improve our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth Update
Separately, official statistics revealed the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry especially affected by the recently reported JLR security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service publishes its monthly performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
