Ed Miliband Calls on Labour to Look Ahead After Starmer Apologises to Wes Streeting for Negative Briefings

Senior Labour official Ed Miliband has called for the party to put aside internal conflicts after Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments coming from Number 10.

Major Events

• Miliband confirms Starmer will fire the Downing Street source behind for briefing against Streeting if identified
• Miliband rules out any party leader plans, saying his previous experience as Labour leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the position again
• British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, affected by the JLR security breach

Context

The internal unrest started after reports emerged about negative briefings from the Prime Minister's supporters targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to downplay the matter, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently followed a more serious direction.

Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, reporters have been advised. The conversation was concise, and they did not address Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.

The Energy Secretary's Reaction

In his morning media appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on country-wide priorities rather than internal divisions.

Look, I think the briefing has been bad, no question.

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

We were given a major victory last summer, a important opportunity to improve our country. And we have a historic duty.

Growth News

In other news, official figures showed the British economic performance increased 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 Schedule

• Morning: The National Health Service releases its monthly performance figures
• Today: Wes Streeting visits Liverpool
• Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
• 11.30am: Number 10 holds its daily lobby briefing
• Morning: The Prime Minister promotes government plans for the UK's first nuclear power facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey