Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments originating from Number 10.
Important Events
- Miliband states Starmer will fire the No 10 source behind for attacking Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rejects future party leader aspirations, stating his previous experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against seeking the role again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Context
The internal turmoil began after allegations surfaced about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the conversation between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a different direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national priorities rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the party today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last July, a major opportunity to transform our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic Update
Meanwhile, official statistics showed the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey