Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party conflicts after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 staffer responsible for targeting Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects future party leader plans, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "best protection" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Situation
The political controversy started after reports circulated about negative briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a more serious turn.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning media interviews, Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been bad, certainly.
But my call to the Labour members now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a historic opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth Update
In other news, official statistics indicated the British economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
