High-ranking Labour Party official Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside internal tensions after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over hostile media stories linked to the Prime Minister's office.
Major Developments
- Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 staffer responsible for briefing against Streeting if found
- The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader plans, saying his past experience as leader was the "best protection" against desiring the role again
- UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the JLR hack
Background
The internal turmoil started after reports surfaced about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to dismiss the matter, the talk between the PM and Streeting apparently took a more serious direction.
The Prime Minister said sorry to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.
Miliband's Reaction
In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than internal divisions.
Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, without doubt.
But my call to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.
We were given a major mandate last July, a major opportunity to change our nation. And we have a serious duty.
Growth News
Meanwhile, official statistics showed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector particularly hit by the recent JLR cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: NHS England issues its latest statistics
- Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
- Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
- 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
- Today: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the Britain's pioneering nuclear power project at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey
