Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On Following Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Hostile Briefings
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party tensions after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments coming from Downing Street.
Major Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 official responsible for attacking Streeting if found
- Miliband rejects any party leader ambitions, declaring his past experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against desiring the position again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the JLR hack
Context
The internal turmoil started after media stories circulated about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to dismiss the matter, the talk between the PM and the health minister reportedly followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been informed. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
Miliband's Response
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a important opportunity to transform our nation. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
In other news, official figures revealed the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the production sector particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England issues its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves speaks to the journalists
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
