Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Important Developments
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street staffer responsible for attacking Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out future leadership ambitions, saying his past time as leader was the "best protection" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR security breach
Background
The political controversy began after reports circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the matter, the talk between Starmer and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious turn.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was brief, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on national matters rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my advice to the party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a important opportunity to transform our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Economic News
Separately, government figures indicated the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial industry particularly hit by the recent JLR security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England issues its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
