Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Focus Forward After Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile briefings coming from Downing Street.
Major Developments
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rejects future party leader ambitions, stating his past experience as leader was the "most effective vaccine" against seeking the position again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The internal turmoil started after reports surfaced about critical background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the incident, the discussion between the PM and Streeting apparently took a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been advised. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, no question.
But my advice to the party today is clear, which is we need to prioritize the public, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last July, a major chance to change our country. And we have a major obligation.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government data revealed the British economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly impacted by the recently reported JLR security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
