Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond party tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting over damaging briefings originating from Number 10.
Major Updates
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses any party leader ambitions, saying his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Situation
The political controversy erupted after allegations circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to minimize the situation, the conversation between the PM and the health minister reportedly took a different direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The discussion was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national matters rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my call to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a major election win last summer, a major opportunity to improve our country. And we have a historic duty.
Growth News
Meanwhile, government statistics showed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly impacted by the recently reported JLR hack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa on Anglesey
