Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging briefings originating from Downing Street.
Important Developments
- Miliband declares Starmer will sack the Downing Street official responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader plans, saying his past time as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against seeking the position again
- UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, impacted by the JLR cyber-attack
Situation
The internal turmoil began after reports circulated about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to minimize the incident, the talk between the PM and Streeting reportedly followed a different turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, the media have been advised. The exchange was concise, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband stressed the need for the party to focus on national priorities rather than party conflicts.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my message to the Labour members now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.
We were given a historic mandate last summer, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
Separately, government data indicated the British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly impacted by the recent JLR security incident.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its latest statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on Anglesey
