Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Look Ahead After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Briefings
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal disputes after PM Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories linked to Number 10.
Major Events
- Miliband confirms Starmer will sack the No 10 official responsible for attacking Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses future party leader plans, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective vaccine" against desiring the position again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Situation
The political controversy began after media stories circulated about negative background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to minimize the incident, the conversation between the PM and Streeting apparently took a different turn.
The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, reporters have been informed. The conversation was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on country-wide issues rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my message to the party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a historic opportunity to change our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Economic News
Separately, government figures indicated the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially hit by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its latest data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa on Anglesey