Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party tensions after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative media stories originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 staffer responsible for attacking Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rejects future leadership ambitions, declaring his previous time as Labour leader was the "strongest inoculation" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The internal controversy erupted after reports emerged about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to downplay the incident, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a historic duty.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official data indicated the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its monthly statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister highlights government plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
