Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for attacking Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out future leadership plans, stating his previous experience as Labour leader was the "best protection" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the JLR security breach
Context
The political unrest began after media stories circulated about critical background comments from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to downplay the matter, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently followed a different turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the media briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the public, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last summer, a important chance to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, government figures indicated the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production industry especially hit by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England releases its monthly data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's first small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
