Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Keir Starmer directly apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Major Events
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street source responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rules out future leadership aspirations, declaring his past experience as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against desiring the position again
- British economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Situation
The internal unrest erupted after reports emerged about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the talk between Starmer and Streeting reportedly took a different direction.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The exchange was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national issues rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour party today is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the public, not ourselves.
We were given a major election win last summer, a important opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Economic News
Separately, government data revealed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly data
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister announces plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
