Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead After Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Briefings
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party conflicts after PM Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile briefings originating from Number 10.
Key Developments
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street staffer behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rules out future leadership aspirations, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against wanting the position again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR security breach
Background
The political controversy started after reports emerged about hostile briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to minimize the matter, the talk between Starmer and Streeting apparently followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was brief, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Statement
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a major victory last July, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.
Growth News
Meanwhile, government statistics showed the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production sector particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey
