Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Look Ahead Following Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting over negative media stories linked to Number 10.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 source behind for targeting Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rules out any party leader aspirations, saying his previous experience as leader was the "best vaccine" against seeking the position again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR hack
Situation
The internal controversy began after reports surfaced about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister according to sources followed a different direction.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The exchange was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a major victory last summer, a important opportunity to change our country. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth News
In other news, official figures indicated the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
