Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Urges Labour to Look Ahead After Starmer Apologises to Streeting for Aggressive Briefings

Senior Labour Party figure Ed Miliband has urged the party to move beyond party conflicts after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally apologised to health minister Wes Streeting MP over negative media stories linked to the Prime Minister's office.

Important Developments

• Miliband states Starmer will sack the No 10 staffer behind for briefing against Wes Streeting if identified
• The Energy Secretary dismisses any party leader ambitions, saying his previous time as Labour leader was the "best inoculation" against seeking the position again
• British economic growth expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover hack

Situation

The internal unrest began after allegations circulated about negative briefings from Starmer's supporters targeting Streeting. Despite early efforts to minimize the incident, the conversation between Starmer and Streeting reportedly took a different turn.

Starmer expressed regret to Wes Streeting, reporters have been advised. The discussion was brief, and they did not talk about the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to dismiss.

The Energy Secretary's Statement

In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband stressed the need for the party to direct attention on national matters rather than internal divisions.

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

But my message to the Labour party today is straightforward, which is we need to focus on the nation, not each other.

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

Economic Update

In other news, official data revealed the British economy increased by just 0.1% in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recent Jaguar Land Rover hack.

The Day's Schedule

• 9.30am: NHS England issues its monthly performance figures
• Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
• Morning: Rachel Reeves makes comments to the media
• 11.30am: Downing Street holds its daily lobby briefing
• Today: Keir Starmer promotes plans for the UK's pioneering small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey