Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Move On Following Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding

High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after PM Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over hostile leaked comments originating from the Prime Minister's office.

Key Events

• Miliband states the Prime Minister will dismiss the Downing Street source behind for attacking Wes Streeting if identified
• Miliband rules out any leadership plans, declaring his past experience as leader was the "best vaccine" against wanting the role again
• UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack

Background

The internal controversy started after allegations circulated about hostile background comments from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial efforts to minimize the matter, the discussion between the PM and the health minister apparently took a different direction.

The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been told. The exchange was concise, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to sack.

The Energy Secretary's Reaction

In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to focus on national issues rather than party divisions.

Clearly, I think the backgrounding has been unhelpful, without doubt.

But my call to the Labour party now is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not ourselves.

We were given a major mandate last summer, a important chance to change our nation. And we have a serious obligation.

Growth Update

In other news, official statistics indicated the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry especially affected by the recent JLR hack.

The Day's Schedule

• 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its latest statistics
• Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting the Liverpool area
• Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
• 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
• Morning: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on Anglesey