Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories coming from Downing Street.
Key Events
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out future party leader ambitions, stating his previous experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the role again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The internal unrest erupted after allegations emerged about hostile background comments from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although early efforts to dismiss the matter, the conversation between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a more serious direction.
Starmer apologised to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my message to the party now is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic News
Separately, government data revealed the UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest statistics
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey