Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party disputes after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings coming from Downing Street.
Key Developments
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader ambitions, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Situation
The political turmoil erupted after allegations surfaced about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite initial efforts to dismiss the matter, the talk between the PM and Streeting reportedly took a more serious direction.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning media interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national matters rather than internal disputes.
Look, I think the media briefing has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the Labour members today is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a important chance to improve our nation. And we have a major responsibility.
Economic Update
Meanwhile, government figures showed the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly hit by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey