Ed Miliband Encourages the Labour Party to Look Ahead Following Starmer Says Sorry to Wes Streeting for Negative Backgrounding

High-ranking Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party disputes after PM Keir Starmer directly expressed regret to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging media stories coming from Number 10.

Important Developments

• Miliband declares Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer behind for briefing against Streeting if found
• The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader ambitions, declaring his previous experience as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
• UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover security breach

Context

The political turmoil began after reports emerged about critical briefings from Starmer's team targeting the Health Secretary. Despite initial attempts to dismiss the situation, the talk between the PM and the health minister apparently followed a more serious direction.

The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, journalists have been informed. The exchange was brief, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, whom Starmer is now under increasing scrutiny to dismiss.

Miliband's Response

In his morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the party to concentrate on national issues rather than party disputes.

Clearly, I think the media briefing has been bad, without doubt.

But my call to the Labour party today is clear, which is we need to focus on the public, not our internal matters.

We were given a major election win last July, a important opportunity to improve our nation. And we have a historic responsibility.

Growth Update

In other news, government statistics indicated the British economic performance expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the manufacturing industry especially impacted by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.

Today's Schedule

• 9.30am: The National Health Service issues its latest statistics
• Today: Wes Streeting is visiting the Liverpool area
• Morning: The Chancellor makes comments to the media
• Late morning: Downing Street holds its daily media briefing
• Today: The Prime Minister highlights plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor project at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey