Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks
High-ranking Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond internal disputes after PM Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative leaked comments originating from Downing Street.
Major Developments
- Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will fire the Downing Street official behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary rejects future party leader plans, stating his past time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against wanting the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach
Context
The internal turmoil started after allegations surfaced about critical briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to minimize the situation, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently followed a different turn.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, reporters have been advised. The conversation was brief, and they did not discuss the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to remove.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Miliband emphasized the need for the party to direct attention on country-wide matters rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the media briefing has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my message to the party today is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the country, not each other.
We were given a historic mandate last summer, a major chance to transform our country. And we have a historic duty.
Economic Update
Separately, official statistics revealed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry especially affected by the recently reported JLR security incident.
Today's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest performance figures
- Today: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
- Today: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
- 11.30am: Downing Street holds its regular lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
