Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has called for the party to leave behind party tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over hostile leaked comments originating from Downing Street.
Important Events
- Ed Miliband declares Starmer will sack the Downing Street source behind for targeting Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband rules out future leadership aspirations, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "most effective protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR security breach
Situation
The internal turmoil erupted after media stories surfaced about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the discussion between the PM and Streeting apparently took a different turn.
Starmer said sorry to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was short, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national issues rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to prioritize the country, not ourselves.
We were given a historic victory last July, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a serious responsibility.
Growth News
Separately, official figures indicated the British economic performance grew by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing sector particularly impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its monthly performance figures
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
