Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories coming from Number 10.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will dismiss the No 10 staffer behind for targeting Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rejects future party leader ambitions, stating his past time as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Background
The political controversy started after reports emerged about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to minimize the incident, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, the media have been informed. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Response
In his morning media interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on national matters rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a major opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
Separately, government statistics indicated the UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces plans for the Britain's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
