Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Negative Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party conflicts after leader Keir Starmer directly apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Developments
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street source behind for attacking Streeting if discovered
- Miliband rules out future leadership plans, saying his past experience as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against wanting the position again
- British economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the JLR security breach
Situation
The internal controversy began after reports surfaced about negative background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the conversation between the PM and Streeting apparently took a more serious turn.
Starmer said sorry to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to focus on national priorities rather than internal divisions.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.
But my call to the party now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a historic election win last July, a important chance to change our nation. And we have a historic obligation.
Economic Update
Separately, official figures revealed the UK economic performance grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover security incident.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest data
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey
