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

Senior Labour official Ed Miliband has demanded the party to put aside internal conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over negative briefings coming from Number 10.

Major Developments

• Miliband confirms the Prime Minister will sack the No 10 staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
• The Energy Secretary rejects future party leader ambitions, stating his past experience as leader was the "strongest protection" against wanting the role again
• UK economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, affected by the Jaguar Land Rover hack

Background

The internal controversy erupted after reports circulated about hostile background comments from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although initial efforts to dismiss the incident, the talk between the PM and the health minister according to sources took a different turn.

Starmer apologised to Streeting, the media have been told. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to sack.

The Energy Secretary's Statement

In his morning broadcast appearances, Ed Miliband stressed the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide issues rather than party conflicts.

Look, I think the backgrounding has been damaging, no question.

But my call to the Labour members today is clear, which is we need to prioritize the nation, not ourselves.

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

Growth Update

Meanwhile, government figures showed the UK economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing industry particularly impacted by the recent JLR security incident.

Today's Agenda

• Morning: The National Health Service releases its monthly statistics
• Morning: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
• Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the press
• Late morning: Number 10 conducts its daily media briefing
• Morning: The Prime Minister announces government plans for the UK's first nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey