Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings linked to Number 10.
Major Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer responsible for attacking Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any leadership aspirations, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "best vaccine" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political controversy started after reports circulated about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to minimize the situation, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The discussion was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, certainly.
But my message to the Labour members now is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a significant victory last July, a major opportunity to change our country. And we have a major responsibility.
Growth Update
Separately, government figures showed the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial industry especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
