Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street source responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rejects any leadership aspirations, declaring his previous experience as Labour leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the JLR hack
Situation
The internal turmoil began after reports emerged about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to minimize the situation, the talk between the PM and Streeting apparently followed a different turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, no question.
But my advice to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major mandate last summer, a important opportunity to change our nation. And we have a major duty.
Economic Update
Separately, official statistics indicated the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR hack.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the Britain's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
