Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile briefings coming from Downing Street.
Major Events
- Ed Miliband states Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer responsible for attacking Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future party leader aspirations, declaring his past experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against seeking the position again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Context
The political controversy began after allegations emerged about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the situation, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide priorities rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my call to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a major election win last summer, a important chance to transform our country. And we have a historic duty.
Economic Update
Separately, official statistics indicated the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
