Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On Following Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding
Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond party disputes after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments coming from the Prime Minister's office.
Key Updates
- Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the No 10 staffer behind for targeting Streeting if identified
- The Energy Secretary dismisses future leadership ambitions, saying his previous time as leader was the "best inoculation" against desiring the position again
- UK economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack
Background
The political unrest started after allegations emerged about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to dismiss the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister apparently followed a different direction.
Starmer apologised to Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was concise, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Reaction
In his early morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on national priorities rather than party disputes.
Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour members now is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the country, not ourselves.
We were given a significant mandate last summer, a important opportunity to transform our country. And we have a historic responsibility.
Economic News
In other news, government figures indicated the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially hit by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Schedule
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Today: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
- Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the media
- 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power facility at Wylfa on Anglesey
