Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Focus Forward After Keir Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding

Senior Labour figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind party tensions after leader Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories originating from Number 10.

Major Events

• Ed Miliband declares Starmer will fire the Downing Street source behind for targeting Streeting if found
• The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership plans, saying his previous experience as leader was the "best protection" against desiring the position again
• UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, impacted by the JLR cyber-attack

Background

The political turmoil started after media stories surfaced about critical background comments from Starmer's allies targeting Streeting. Although early efforts to downplay the matter, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently took a different direction.

Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under pressure to dismiss.

The Energy Secretary's Reaction

In his early morning media interviews, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to concentrate on national issues rather than internal divisions.

Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, without doubt.

But my advice to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to prioritize the public, not ourselves.

We were given a historic mandate last July, a historic chance to change our nation. And we have a historic duty.

Economic Update

Separately, government data showed the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing sector especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover security incident.

The Day's Schedule

• Morning: The National Health Service releases its latest data
• Morning: The Health Secretary visits the Liverpool area
• Today: The Chancellor makes comments to the press
• Late morning: Downing Street conducts its regular lobby briefing
• Today: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's pioneering nuclear power plant at Wylfa on Anglesey