Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile briefings coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Events
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street staffer behind for attacking Wes Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership plans, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Situation
The political turmoil started after media stories emerged about hostile briefings from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the situation, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, journalists have been advised. The exchange was short, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a major mandate last July, a historic opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, official data showed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly hit by the recently reported JLR hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest performance figures
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey