Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On After Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside party tensions after PM Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Developments
- Miliband declares Starmer will sack the Downing Street staffer responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses any party leader ambitions, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political unrest began after reports emerged about hostile background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite initial attempts to dismiss the situation, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a important opportunity to improve our country. And we have a major obligation.
Economic Update
In other news, government data indicated the British economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production sector particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England issues its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
