Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On After Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond internal disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over hostile leaked comments linked to Number 10.
Important Developments
- Miliband declares Starmer will dismiss the No 10 official behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects any party leader aspirations, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against desiring the position again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Situation
The internal unrest erupted after allegations circulated about hostile background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to minimize the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning media interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my call to the party now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a major mandate last July, a historic opportunity to transform our country. And we have a serious duty.
Economic Update
Separately, official figures indicated the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry especially hit by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey