Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 source behind for briefing against Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future leadership plans, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "strongest protection" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The internal unrest erupted after allegations surfaced about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to downplay the incident, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting reportedly took a different turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my message to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a major responsibility.
Economic Update
Meanwhile, official figures indicated the UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest data
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey