Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal conflicts after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative media stories originating from Number 10.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future party leader ambitions, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "strongest vaccine" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The political unrest started after allegations circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to dismiss the situation, the discussion between the PM and Streeting according to sources took a different turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a historic chance to improve our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, official data showed the UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest data
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces plans for the Britain's first nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
