Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward Following Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond party disputes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile media stories linked to Number 10.
Key Developments
- Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source responsible for briefing against Streeting if found
- Miliband rejects future party leader plans, declaring his past time as leader was the "strongest inoculation" against seeking the role again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political turmoil started after allegations circulated about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister reportedly followed a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, the media have been informed. The exchange was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party disputes.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my call to the party now is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major victory last July, a historic opportunity to change our country. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
In other news, government data revealed the British economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly hit by the recently reported JLR hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its latest statistics
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- Late morning: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer announces government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor plant at Wylfa site on Anglesey
