Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour official Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile media stories coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Events
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the No 10 official behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any party leader aspirations, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against seeking the role again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Situation
The political turmoil erupted after allegations surfaced about critical briefings from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to downplay the matter, the talk between the PM and Streeting according to sources took a more serious direction.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The discussion was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on national issues rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, no question.
But my advice to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not each other.
We were given a historic election win last summer, a major opportunity to transform our country. And we have a major responsibility.
Growth Update
Separately, government statistics revealed the UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially impacted by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its latest performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the Britain's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
