Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after PM Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging briefings originating from Downing Street.
Key Updates
- Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer behind for targeting Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out any party leader plans, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against wanting the role again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The political turmoil started after allegations surfaced about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the situation, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting according to sources took a different direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than internal conflicts.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been bad, certainly.
But my call to the Labour members today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a major chance to change our nation. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth News
Separately, government figures revealed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly affected by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- Morning: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
