Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Negative Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond party disputes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting over negative briefings linked to Number 10.
Key Updates
- Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 staffer behind for attacking Wes Streeting if found
- Miliband dismisses future party leader aspirations, declaring his previous experience as Labour leader was the "best protection" against wanting the role again
- British economic growth grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, impacted by the JLR cyber-attack
Context
The internal controversy erupted after media stories emerged about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to downplay the incident, the talk between Starmer and the health minister reportedly took a different direction.
Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been told. The conversation was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media interviews, Ed Miliband emphasized the need for the party to focus on national issues rather than party divisions.
Look, I think the media briefing has been bad, without doubt.
But my message to the Labour members now is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not our internal matters.
We were given a significant victory last summer, a important opportunity to change our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Growth News
Separately, official data revealed the British economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover hack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
