Downing Street Says...

Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'.

Downing Street Says... is an unofficial site that lets you read summaries of these briefings and add your own comments. Want to know more?

» Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Constitutional reform

Asked what the Prime Minister thought about the Shadow Justice Secretary’s proposal to split the issues of voting reform and constituency boundaries into two separate bills, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said that the bills had been published in the House and it was now up to members to debate. Asked if the Prime Minister was [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Israel

Asked if the Prime Minister had any response to Ron Prosor, the Israeli ambassador to London, who blamed the Palestinians’ situation on Hamas, the Prime Minister’s Spokeswoman (PMS) said that the Prime Minister had been clear in the press conference this morning about his long-held views on Gaza, and the need for progress in the [...]

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Immigration

Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with the Business Secretary that our immigration policy needed to be as liberal as possible, the PMS said that the Business Secretary’s views did not differ from other remarks by government Ministers; there was a balance to be stuck. We needed to address the concerns of the British people [...]

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Sheffield Forgemasters

Asked why it had been left to the Business Secretary to correct the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister’s remarks on Sheffield Forgemasters, the PMS said that the Business Secretary wanted to put on the record what decisions were made and why decisions were made. He was the Business Secretary and as such you would [...]

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

European Investigation Order

Asked if the decision to opt in to the European Investigation Order would put extra strain on the police, the PMS said no. The Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO) was consulted and nobody wanted to opt out. The message that came back from ACPO was that opting in would make it simpler for police [...]

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Recess

Asked if the Prime Minister was grateful for the Deputy Prime Minister’s offer to hold the fort over the summer, the PMS said that the Prime Minister was in charge, but he clearly had a deputy who took on duties for him. original source.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Turkey

Asked if the Prime Minister was canvassing for Turkey to join the EU, the Prime Minister’s Spokeswoman (PMS) said that the Prime Minister had said during his speech this morning that he would remain Turkey’s strongest possible advocate for EU Membership and for greater influence at the top table of European diplomacy. Asked if the Prime [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

European Investigation Order

Asked about the European Investigation Order announcement later today, the PMS said that the Home Secretary was considering whether to opt in or opt out of the directive and would make a statement this afternoon. We would not pre-empt the statement. original source.

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

AV referendum

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned by the fact that more than 40 MPs had signed a Commons motion protesting at plans to hold a referendum on voting reform on the same day as key elections in Scotland and Wales, the PMS said that it was not for her to comment on the political [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

BP

Asked what the Prime Minister thought about the change at the head of BP, the PMS said that it was a commercial decision for the company. Asked what the Prime Minister thought about the record losses reported by BP today, the PMS said that BP was an important company both to the UK and US economies. [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Monday, July 26, 2010

Afghanistan

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that the leaked documents on the war in Afghanistan had details of war crimes, the Prime Minister’s Spokeswoman (PMS) said that we did not comment on leaked documents. original source.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Immigration

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned about the High Court ruling on banning fast track deportation, the PMS said that the Home Office had responded to this and the Prime Minister echoed the response; we were disappointed with the Court’s judgement and would be appealing. The policy of making limited exceptions in special circumstances [...]

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Policing White Paper

Asked if there would be a leak inquiry into the White Paper appearing in a Sunday newspaper, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press to speak to the Home Office. Asked if it was the Government’s intention to see directly elected Police Commissioners within two years, the PMS said that the Government’s position on [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Afghanistan leaks

When asked what the Prime Minister’s view was of the picture portrayed by the leaked documents, the PMS referred people to the statement made by the White House in response to the leak of US military documents. The PMS added that we would lament all unauthorised release of classified materials. Asked about the content of the [...]

Briefing took place at 10:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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