Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile media stories originating from Number 10.
Major Updates
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for attacking Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary rules out future party leader plans, declaring his past time as leader was the "most effective protection" against wanting the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political turmoil began after reports circulated about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early attempts to downplay the situation, the talk between the PM and the health minister apparently took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, the media have been told. The exchange was short, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, no question.
But my call to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a historic opportunity to improve our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic Update
In other news, government data indicated the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its monthly statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
