Ed Miliband Encourages Labour to Move On After Starmer Offers Apology to Streeting for Hostile Briefings

High-ranking Labour figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind party tensions after leader Sir Keir Starmer directly said sorry to health minister Wes Streeting MP over damaging leaked comments originating from Downing Street.

Major Events

• Ed Miliband confirms Starmer will dismiss the Downing Street staffer behind for targeting Wes Streeting if found
• The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader ambitions, saying his past experience as leader was the "most effective inoculation" against wanting the role again
• UK economic growth increased by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the JLR security breach

Situation

The political controversy started after media stories emerged about critical background comments from the Prime Minister's team targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to downplay the matter, the discussion between Starmer and the health minister reportedly followed a different direction.

The Prime Minister apologised to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The exchange was short, and they did not talk about Morgan McSweeney, whom the PM is now under growing pressure to dismiss.

Miliband's Reaction

In his early morning media appearances, Ed Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to direct attention on national issues rather than party disputes.

Look, I think the briefing has been bad, without doubt.

But my message to the party today is straightforward, which is we need to concentrate on the public, not each other.

We were given a historic election win last summer, a important chance to improve our country. And we have a major duty.

Economic Update

Separately, government statistics revealed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial industry especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack.

The Day's Schedule

• 9.30am: The National Health Service publishes its latest data
• Morning: The Health Secretary is visiting Liverpool
• Morning: The Chancellor speaks to the journalists
• 11.30am: Number 10 conducts its regular lobby briefing
• Morning: Keir Starmer highlights government plans for the UK's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey