Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Look Ahead After Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative briefings originating from Number 10.
Major Updates
- Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out any leadership ambitions, stating his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the role again
- British economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political turmoil started after reports circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to downplay the situation, the discussion between the PM and Streeting reportedly followed a different turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was brief, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide matters rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, without doubt.
But my message to the party now is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major victory last summer, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a major responsibility.
Growth Update
In other news, government statistics showed the British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
