Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Move On Following Keir Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories originating from Number 10.
Important Developments
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Wes Streeting if discovered
- Miliband dismisses any party leader plans, saying his past time as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR cyber-attack
Background
The political controversy erupted after allegations emerged about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the matter, the talk between the PM and the health minister according to sources followed a different direction.
The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The exchange was short, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.
Miliband's Statement
In his morning media interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on national matters rather than party divisions.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my message to the party now is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not each other.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a major opportunity to transform our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, government data showed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially impacted by the recently reported JLR hack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its latest statistics
- Today: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
