Ed Miliband Urges the Labour Party to Move On After Keir Starmer Offers Apology to Wes Streeting for Negative Media Leaks

Senior Labour Party figure Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded the party to move beyond internal disputes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly said sorry to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over negative briefings linked to Number 10.

Major Developments

• Miliband states Starmer will dismiss the No 10 official behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
• The Energy Secretary rejects any leadership plans, saying his previous time as leader was the "most effective protection" against seeking the position again
• UK economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the third quarter, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack

Context

The political unrest erupted after reports circulated about critical background comments from Starmer's allies targeting the Health Secretary. Although early efforts to downplay the incident, the conversation between the PM and Streeting reportedly followed a different direction.

The Prime Minister said sorry to Streeting, reporters have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom the PM is now under pressure to dismiss.

The Energy Secretary's Statement

In his morning broadcast interviews, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on country-wide issues rather than internal divisions.

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

But my call to the Labour members now is quite simple, which is we need to concentrate on the nation, not ourselves.

We were given a significant mandate last summer, a historic chance to transform our nation. And we have a major duty.

Growth Update

Meanwhile, official data showed the British economy grew by just 0.1% in the July-September period, with the industrial sector particularly impacted by the recent JLR hack.

The Day's Agenda

• 9.30am: NHS England releases its latest statistics
• Morning: The Health Secretary visits Liverpool
• Today: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
• Late morning: Downing Street holds its regular media briefing
• Morning: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the Britain's pioneering small modular reactor plant at Wylfa on Anglesey