‘Our job is to focus’ – Miliband responds to anonymous briefings

Ed Miliband has responded to claims that a number of MPs have approached Dave Watts, Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), to call for Miliband to resign. Rumours suggest that there are two MPs, although no names have yet circulated. Mark Ferguson’s take on the story is here.

In an interview with the BBC, Miliband said that the story was “nonsense” and that his focus was on “the cost-of-living crisis, it’s the NHS, it’s the prospects for the next generation.”

Asked whether MPs were calling for him to resign, he said:

“That’s not the way I see it. The way I see it is this country faces huge and enormous issues and our job, the Labour party’s job, is to focus on those things and we’re going to do that.”

Pushed on whether his leadership was being called into question by anyone, he responded “I don’t accept that this matter arises.”