Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over negative leaked comments coming from Number 10.
Important Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the No 10 staffer responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses any leadership aspirations, saying his past experience as leader was the "most effective vaccine" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Background
The internal controversy erupted after reports surfaced about negative briefings from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Despite initial attempts to minimize the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the party now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not each other.
We were given a significant election win last July, a major opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, official figures revealed the UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial industry particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
