Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Media Leaks

Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party disputes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories originating from the Prime Minister's office.

Important Updates

• Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if found
• Miliband rejects future party leader aspirations, declaring his past experience as Labour leader was the "strongest vaccine" against seeking the position again
• UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover hack

Context

The internal turmoil started after allegations emerged about negative background comments from Starmer's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite early efforts to minimize the incident, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting according to sources followed a different direction.

The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.

Miliband's Statement

In his morning media appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on national matters rather than internal divisions.

Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, certainly.

But my advice to the party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the nation, not ourselves.

We were given a historic mandate last summer, a major opportunity to transform our country. And we have a major duty.

Economic Update

Meanwhile, official figures showed the UK economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the production industry especially impacted by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.

The Day's Agenda

• Morning: The National Health Service issues its monthly performance figures
• Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
• Morning: Rachel Reeves speaks to the media
• Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily lobby briefing
• Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the Britain's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on Anglesey