Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
Senior Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind internal tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile leaked comments linked to Downing Street.
Key Developments
- Miliband declares the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 source responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out any leadership aspirations, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "best vaccine" against desiring the role again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, impacted by the JLR hack
Background
The internal unrest erupted after reports emerged about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to minimize the incident, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently followed a different direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on national priorities rather than internal disputes.
Look, I think the briefing has been bad, no question.
But my call to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant election win last summer, a important opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a major obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, government figures indicated the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the production industry particularly affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
The Day's Schedule
- Morning: NHS England publishes its monthly statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
