Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind internal disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile briefings originating from Number 10.
Key Updates
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 official responsible for attacking Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rejects future leadership aspirations, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against seeking the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Background
The political turmoil erupted after allegations circulated about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to minimize the situation, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently took a more serious direction.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, journalists have been told. The discussion was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to focus on country-wide matters rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been damaging, no question.
But my message to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the public, not ourselves.
We were given a significant election win last July, a historic opportunity to change our country. And we have a historic duty.
Economic News
In other news, government statistics revealed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production industry particularly impacted by the recent JLR security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its monthly data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
