Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond internal disputes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting over damaging media stories linked to Downing Street.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the Downing Street official behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rules out any party leader plans, stating his past experience as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The internal controversy started after allegations surfaced about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial attempts to downplay the incident, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a different direction.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to direct attention on national issues rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour members now is clear, which is we need to prioritize the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic election win last July, a historic chance to transform our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth Update
Separately, government statistics indicated the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its regular media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
