Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments linked to Downing Street.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband declares the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street staffer responsible for attacking Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses any party leader ambitions, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "best protection" against wanting the role again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The political turmoil started after allegations circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to minimize the matter, the talk between the PM and Streeting according to sources followed a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Response
In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant victory last July, a important opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a historic duty.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, official data showed the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: The National Health Service releases its monthly statistics
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
