Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party disputes after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments originating from Downing Street.
Important Developments
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street official responsible for attacking Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out any leadership ambitions, declaring his past time as leader was the "most effective vaccine" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR hack
Situation
The internal unrest started after media stories surfaced about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to downplay the incident, the discussion between the PM and the health minister reportedly followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The exchange was short, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national priorities rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my call to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic mandate last summer, a important opportunity to transform our country. And we have a historic responsibility.
Economic Update
In other news, government data revealed the UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
