The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband claimed the PM ‘hates’ negative briefings, and would sack whoever started the row over his leadership if he could find out who it was
The PM will “get rid” of the person behind a briefing that unleashed a leadership row if he can find them, the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has claimed.
Labour was engulfed in a bitter briefing war this week that forced Wes Streeting to deny plotting a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
It began when allies of the PM launched an extraordinary bid to protect him by launching a pre-emptive strike on Mr Streeting.
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Now Mr Miliband has called for those involved in the briefing to be sacked, if the PM can confirm who it was.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Mr Miliband said: “They should be sacked. I know the Prime Minister will want to find out who that person is and will get rid of them if he can find them.
“It’s very hard to find out who does this briefing. Journalists understandably protect their sources, and you can never get to the bottom of it, but of course, if Keir Starmer finds that person, I’ve discussed anonymous briefing with him in the past, he’ll get rid of them. He hates this stuff.”
Mr Miliband urged Labour colleagues to “focus on the country”, but admitted turbulence was normal in Government.
He explained: “The briefing is bad, and my message to the whole of the Labour party is we’ve got to focus on the country not ourselves. I’ve been in Government a long time, I was there during the Blair/Brown years, where there was more than a fair degree of briefing.
“What gets you through these days of turbulence in Government is knowing your values, knowing your vision, and knowing what you stand for.”
Amid rumours he could be considering a shock bid to return as Labour Party leader, Mr Miliband also categorically ruled it out.
He said: “I had the best inoculation technique against wanting to be leader of the Labour Party because I was leader of the Labour Party between 2010 and 2015.
“I’ve got the T-shirt, that chapter’s closed.”
The row escalated on Wednesday evening as Labour MPs railed at the decision to put rocket boosters under Westminster gossip about Mr Starmer’s future. A Labour MP told the Mirror: “Honestly the PM employs children. The operation is doing a really good job of preparing MPs for a hideous Budget, with plenty of briefings and meetings – and then they blow it up by having a totally unnecessary go at Wes?”