Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over negative leaked comments originating from Number 10.
Key Developments
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street staffer behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects future leadership aspirations, saying his previous time as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against wanting the position again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The political controversy erupted after media stories emerged about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the matter, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister reportedly followed a different direction.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Response
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national issues rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not each other.
We were given a historic mandate last July, a major chance to improve our country. And we have a major responsibility.
Economic Update
In other news, government figures revealed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recently reported JLR hack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
