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High-ranking Labour Party official Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has urged the party to leave behind internal disputes after PM Keir Starmer personally apologised to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over damaging media stories coming from Downing Street.

Important Updates

• Ed Miliband states the Prime Minister will fire the No 10 official responsible for attacking Wes Streeting if discovered
• Miliband rules out future leadership plans, declaring his past time as leader was the "strongest protection" against seeking the position again
• British economy expanded by just 0.1% in the July-September period, hit by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack

Context

The internal controversy began after allegations emerged about hostile briefings from the Prime Minister's allies targeting Streeting. Although early attempts to dismiss the matter, the conversation between Starmer and the health minister apparently followed a different direction.

Starmer apologised to Wes Streeting, the media have been advised. The discussion was short, and they did not address the chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under growing pressure to dismiss.

The Energy Secretary's Response

In his early morning broadcast appearances, Miliband highlighted the need for the Labour Party to focus on national priorities rather than party divisions.

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

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

We were given a historic victory last summer, a major chance to transform our nation. And we have a historic obligation.

Growth Update

Separately, government figures showed the British economic performance increased by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter, with the industrial sector especially affected by the recently reported JLR cyber-attack.

The Day's Schedule

• Morning: NHS England issues its latest data
• Today: Wes Streeting is visiting Liverpool
• Today: The Chancellor speaks to the media
• Late morning: Downing Street conducts its daily lobby briefing
• Morning: Keir Starmer promotes government plans for the Britain's first small modular reactor facility at Wylfa site on Anglesey