Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Negative Briefings
High-ranking Labour official Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party conflicts after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments originating from Downing Street.
Important Events
- Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street official behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects any leadership aspirations, stating his past experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The political controversy erupted after media stories surfaced about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to downplay the situation, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning media interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a major mandate last summer, a historic opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a historic duty.
Growth Update
In other news, official data showed the British economic performance increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its monthly performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
