Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour official Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Key Updates
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 staffer behind for attacking Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rejects future party leader ambitions, stating his previous experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against desiring the role again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR hack
Context
The political unrest erupted after reports circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although early attempts to minimize the situation, the conversation between the PM and the health minister apparently took a more serious direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been bad, no question.
But my message to the Labour members today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a major election win last summer, a major opportunity to transform our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth Update
In other news, official statistics showed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector particularly impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
