Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Move On After Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Media Leaks
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind internal tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile leaked comments linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Major Events
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rules out any leadership ambitions, saying his previous experience as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Context
The political controversy erupted after media stories circulated about negative briefings from Starmer's team targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to dismiss the situation, the conversation between the PM and the health minister according to sources took a more serious direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on country-wide priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my advice to the Labour party now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a major election win last summer, a important opportunity to improve our country. And we have a serious duty.
Economic Update
In other news, government figures showed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially impacted by the recent JLR security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
