UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Energy Secretary Ed Miliband urges Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to remove Number 10 staff aides responsible for briefings that sparked party tensions.
As reported by The Telegraph, Ed Miliband calls on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to remove Downing Street staff involved in the briefing war.
The Energy Secretary said Sir Keir Starmer, “of course,” sack anyone responsible for briefing the media about a potential coup.
The Prime Minister’s allies have suggested that Ed Miliband, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could challenge his leadership.
Briefings from Downing Street aimed at warning leadership contenders about political unrest instead sparked a crisis, with Wes Streeting criticising the “toxic culture.”
What did Ed Miliband say about Downing Street briefing leaks and Keir Starmer’s response?
During an interview, when asked about Cabinet briefings, Ed Miliband replied,
“I think you get briefings that happen in politics, they’re an unfortunate part of politics, I deplore the culture of briefing. I think there’s a very clear lesson though for everyone in our party, which is that we need to focus on the country and not ourselves.”
He said the Prime Minister “absolutely deplores” any anonymous criticism of his ministers.
Mr Miliband stated,
“These things do happen, there are noises off and you can never quite know where they’re coming from, that’s the truth.”
When questioned if the Prime Minister should remove those behind the recent briefings, he said,
“Of course he should.”
The Prime Minister reportedly apologised to Wes Streeting during a conversation on Wednesday evening over the Number 10 briefings.
Calls are growing across parties for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, to be removed after the briefing row.
Mr Miliband insisted the Prime Minister was correct to show confidence in Mr McSweeney, despite failing to do so during PMQs
He declined to comment on whether Mr McSweeney was behind the briefings or if he should be removed.
When questioned about a possible return to party leadership, Mr Miliband said he has “definitely no” intention of challenging the Prime Minister.
Asked if he was ruling it out, the energy secretary responded,
“Yeah. I had the greatest inoculation technique for wanting to be leader of the Labour Party by being leader of the Labour Party between 2010 and 2015.”
He added,
“I support Keir. Government is a collective endeavour, leadership is a collective endeavour, we all have a responsibility to ensure this Government succeeds.”
Mr Miliband’s denial of plans to seek party leadership contrasted with comments made by Mr Streeting just a day earlier.
In another interview, the energy secretary said,
“I’ve talked to Keir before about this kind of briefing that happens and as he always says, if he finds the person, he’ll get rid of them. And I absolutely believe he would do that.”
He said Mr Starmer “hates all this nonsense” but admitted it happens in politics.
Mr Miliband stated,
“I hate the culture of briefing. But there is a longstanding aspect of politics. As I say, I was there between Blair and Brown … So look, these things unfortunately happen, but what matters is staying focused on the mission.”
He continued,
“Turbulence is part of the gig, is part of the DNA of being in government. What gets you through is keeping your eyes on the prize of what you care about, what you’re trying to do.”
What did Wes Streeting say about Downing Street briefings and the Prime Minister’s leadership?
The Health Secretary denied claims of plotting to oust the Prime Minister and called for the removal of aides behind the briefings, escalating government tensions.
Wes Streeting slammed Downing Street briefings against him as ‘self-defeating’ and evidence of a toxic culture within Number 10.
He said the attacks on him proved that
“Lucy Powell was right about the culture of No 10 and I would just like to commend the briefer on at least picking on one of the men instead of the women in the cabinet.”
The health secretary added,
“I can tell you without having even spoken to the prime minister what he thinks of briefing, what his reaction will be to the front pages and the broadcast bulletins overnight and the words I’m sure he would use are not suitable for a family show.”
When questioned whether the prime minister should remove those responsible, he responded,
“Yes, but he’s got to find them first and I wouldn’t expect him to spend loads of time on this. I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the prime minister either to suggest that he’s fighting for his job.”
Mr Streeting continued,
“These sorts of Westminster bubble process stories, boys getting carried away, these are the things that distract from our ability to get across the message of the change we’re making, the difference we’re making.”
What did Alastair Campbell say about Sir Keir Starmer’s government?
Former Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s administration must “get a grip.”
He added,
“The worst thing about recent days is it’s made a relatively new Government look like the last lot. There are bigger, worse enemies, like Nigel Farage… Get a grip.”
Responding to Mr Campbell’s remarks, Mr Miliband said,
“It’s bad when it happens, it’s been a bad couple of days. But as I say Alistair was there during the Blair-Brown years, and that was no tea party when it came to the whole briefing issue.”
How many Britons want Sir Keir Starmer to remain Labour leader?
A new YouGov poll shows that around 51% of Britons believe Keir Starmer should step aside as Labour leader. Meanwhile, 27% think Mr Starmer should continue as leader, while 23% are undecided.
Another YouGov poll reveals Reform UK is projected to win 311 seats, Labour 144, Liberal Democrats 78, Conservatives 45, SNP 37, Greens 7, and Plaid Cymru 6 if an election were held tomorrow.
