Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Streeting for Hostile Backgrounding
High-ranking Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal conflicts after leader Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative briefings originating from Number 10.
Key Events
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the No 10 source responsible for targeting Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary rejects any party leader aspirations, saying his past experience as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against desiring the position again
- UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR hack
Background
The political turmoil began after reports emerged about critical briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to minimize the situation, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister reportedly followed a more serious turn.
The Prime Minister expressed regret to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Statement
In his morning media interviews, Miliband emphasized the need for the Labour Party to focus on national priorities rather than internal conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, certainly.
But my call to the Labour party now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a significant victory last July, a historic chance to improve our country. And we have a historic obligation.
Economic Update
Meanwhile, official figures revealed the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the production industry particularly impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England publishes its latest performance figures
- Morning: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its daily lobby briefing
- Today: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's first nuclear power project at Wylfa site on Anglesey
