Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Focus Forward After Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside party conflicts after leader Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Miliband states Starmer will fire the No 10 official behind for attacking Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects future leadership plans, declaring his previous time as leader was the "best protection" against wanting the position again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack
Context
The political controversy started after media stories surfaced about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial efforts to minimize the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister according to sources followed a different direction.
Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, journalists have been informed. The conversation was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his morning media appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide issues rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the backgrounding has been bad, no question.
But my message to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to focus on the country, not each other.
We were given a historic victory last summer, a important opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious obligation.
Growth Update
Meanwhile, government figures showed the UK economy increased by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly hit by the recently reported JLR hack.
Today's Schedule
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest statistics
- Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
- 11.30am: Downing Street conducts its regular media briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer highlights plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa site on Anglesey
