Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has called for the party to move beyond party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging briefings coming from Downing Street.
Key Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street staffer responsible for briefing against Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects any leadership plans, declaring his past experience as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Background
The political turmoil began after reports surfaced about critical background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial attempts to minimize the matter, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a more serious direction.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide issues rather than internal disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, certainly.
But my advice to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a major opportunity to improve our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, government figures revealed the UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry especially affected by the recently reported JLR hack.
The Day's Agenda
- Morning: NHS England publishes its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its regular media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
