Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Look Ahead After Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal tensions after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging briefings linked to Downing Street.
Major Updates
- Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rules out any leadership aspirations, saying his previous time as leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The internal controversy began after media stories surfaced about critical background comments from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to minimize the situation, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, journalists have been told. The discussion was short, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning media appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national matters rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, no question.
But my message to the Labour members today is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a major mandate last July, a historic chance to transform our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic Update
In other news, government data indicated the British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
