Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond party tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories coming from Number 10.
Important Events
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 source responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- Miliband rules out future leadership plans, stating his past time as leader was the "best protection" against desiring the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Context
The political turmoil erupted after allegations emerged about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to dismiss the matter, the talk between the PM and the health minister apparently took a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, journalists have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my call to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last July, a major chance to change our nation. And we have a major duty.
Growth News
In other news, official statistics showed the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially impacted by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its monthly statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
