Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories linked to Number 10.
Important Updates
- Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer responsible for attacking Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future party leader plans, declaring his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Context
The political controversy began after allegations circulated about critical briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the situation, the talk between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a different turn.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The discussion was concise, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide matters rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, no question.
But my call to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last July, a important opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a major obligation.
Growth Update
Separately, government data showed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recent JLR hack.
The Day's Agenda
- Morning: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
