Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party conflicts after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories linked to Number 10.
Key Events
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street official responsible for targeting Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership plans, stating his previous time as leader was the "strongest protection" against desiring the position again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political unrest erupted after allegations surfaced about negative briefings from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to downplay the incident, the talk between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, no question.
But my message to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a important opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government statistics revealed the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly impacted by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
