Senior Labour Party official Ed Miliband has urged the party to put aside party conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories originating from the Prime Minister's office.
Important Events
- Ed Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the Downing Street official responsible for targeting Wes Streeting if identified
- Miliband rejects any leadership plans, declaring his past time as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against seeking the role again
- British economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the JLR security breach
Situation
The political controversy began after media stories surfaced about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial attempts to minimize the incident, the discussion between Starmer and Streeting reportedly followed a more serious turn.
Starmer expressed regret to Streeting, reporters have been told. The discussion was concise, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.
The Energy Secretary's Response
In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on country-wide matters rather than party conflicts.
Look, I think the briefing has been damaging, certainly.
But my advice to the party today is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not ourselves.
We were given a historic election win last summer, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a major responsibility.
Economic Update
Separately, government statistics showed the UK economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial industry particularly affected by the recently reported Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.
The Day's Agenda
- 9.30am: The National Health Service releases its latest data
- Today: Wes Streeting visits the Liverpool area
- Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the press
- Late morning: Number 10 holds its regular lobby briefing
- Morning: Keir Starmer announces plans for the UK's first small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey
