Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Major Events
- Miliband states Starmer will fire the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary rejects future party leader ambitions, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective vaccine" against wanting the position again
- British economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The political turmoil began after media stories emerged about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to downplay the situation, the discussion between the PM and Streeting apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The discussion was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the briefing has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major mandate last July, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government data revealed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector especially hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest data
- Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
