Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party conflicts after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories linked to Number 10.
Key Events
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 source responsible for attacking Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any party leader aspirations, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest vaccine" against wanting the role again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The internal controversy erupted after allegations circulated about negative briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to minimize the matter, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting according to sources followed a more serious turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my message to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.
We were given a historic election win last summer, a important opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government data showed the British economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
