Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Aggressive Backgrounding

High-ranking Labour official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to leave behind internal disputes after leader Keir Starmer personally said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting over damaging briefings originating from Number 10.

Key Events

• Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the Downing Street official responsible for briefing against Streeting if identified
• The Energy Secretary rules out any party leader plans, declaring his previous experience as leader was the "strongest vaccine" against desiring the position again
• British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR hack

Context

The political turmoil began after reports surfaced about hostile briefings from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although initial attempts to downplay the incident, the conversation between the PM and the health minister apparently followed a more serious direction.

The Prime Minister expressed regret to Wes Streeting, the media have been told. The conversation was concise, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to remove.

The Energy Secretary's Reaction

In his morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to direct attention on national priorities rather than party conflicts.

Clearly, I think the briefing has been damaging, no question.

But my advice to the Labour party now is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not each other.

We were given a major victory last July, a historic chance to change our country. And we have a major obligation.

Economic News

Separately, official data showed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1 percent in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry particularly hit by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.

Today's Schedule

• 9.30am: NHS England issues its monthly statistics
• Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
• Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
• 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily media briefing
• Morning: The Prime Minister promotes plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on Anglesey