Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging leaked comments coming from Number 10.
Major Developments
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 official responsible for briefing against Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses future party leader plans, stating his previous experience as leader was the "best protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The political controversy began after allegations circulated about hostile briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite initial attempts to minimize the incident, the conversation between the PM and Streeting reportedly took a different turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The discussion was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his early morning media interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, certainly.
But my call to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last summer, a major opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a serious duty.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official data revealed the British economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector particularly hit by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its monthly statistics
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the Britain's first nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
