Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly apologised to health minister Wes Streeting over damaging leaked comments linked to Number 10.
Major Developments
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will dismiss the No 10 official responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses any party leader plans, declaring his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest protection" against seeking the role again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The political controversy started after reports emerged about negative background comments from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to minimize the situation, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on national priorities rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last July, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic News
Separately, official data indicated the UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly hit by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- Morning: The National Health Service publishes its latest data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
