Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories coming from Downing Street.
Key Developments
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if discovered
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future party leader ambitions, declaring his past time as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Situation
The internal controversy began after allegations surfaced about critical background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite initial efforts to downplay the situation, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently took a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The exchange was concise, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning broadcast interviews, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to concentrate on national matters rather than internal conflicts.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my message to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a major victory last July, a major opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic News
Separately, government figures showed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- Morning: The National Health Service issues its monthly performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
