Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Move On After Keir Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
Senior Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal conflicts after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- Miliband dismisses future leadership ambitions, stating his past experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economy increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Situation
The internal controversy erupted after allegations surfaced about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting apparently took a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The exchange was short, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on national issues rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my advice to the Labour members today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a historic mandate last July, a historic opportunity to improve our country. And we have a historic duty.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government figures indicated the British economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the production industry especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
