Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings linked to Downing Street.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the No 10 official responsible for targeting Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any leadership plans, stating his previous experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the position again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The internal unrest began after allegations circulated about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a more serious direction.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on national matters rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour members now is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the country, not each other.
We were given a major victory last July, a historic opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth Update
Separately, government data revealed the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey