Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative media stories linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Major Developments
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will sack the No 10 source responsible for briefing against Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary rules out any leadership plans, stating his past experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR security breach
Situation
The political turmoil began after reports circulated about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the talk between Starmer and the health minister according to sources took a different turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to focus on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party now is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a significant mandate last July, a major chance to improve our nation. And we have a serious duty.
Economic News
In other news, official data showed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial industry especially affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly data
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
