Comments on: Lord Woolf/Constitutional Reforms http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:55:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Aaron Craigie http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-292 Aaron Craigie Mon, 08 Mar 2004 14:43:09 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-292 It's interesting to see this sudden belief i in the importance of separation. Traditionally of course that theory involves a separation between legislature, judiciary and executive. So it's vital to suddenly separate judiciary from the legislature, but not the executive from the legislature, except for the Lord Chancellor who as a member of the judiciary, legislature and executive is the most confused of the lot. It’s interesting to see this sudden belief i in the importance of separation. Traditionally of course that theory involves a separation between legislature, judiciary and executive. So it’s vital to suddenly separate judiciary from the legislature, but not the executive from the legislature, except for the Lord Chancellor who as a member of the judiciary, legislature and executive is the most confused of the lot.

]]> By: Neil Moore-Smith http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-291 Neil Moore-Smith Mon, 08 Mar 2004 14:03:17 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-291 <<Asked how we would respond to the criticisms, the PMOS said by continuing with our programme of reform>> Is that another way of saying, "by totally ignoring any criticism"? It's interesting that the government didn't tell the BBC to "continue with its programme of journalism" when the Hutton Whitewash was published. (That sets me thinking, perhaps we should see Hutton as a fulfilment of Tony's promise to be "whiter than white". We wrongly assumed that he would achieve it without a paint job!) <<Asked how we would respond to the criticisms, the PMOS said by continuing with our programme of reform>>

Is that another way of saying, "by totally ignoring any criticism"?

It’s interesting that the government didn’t tell the BBC to "continue with its programme of journalism" when the Hutton Whitewash was published. (That sets me thinking, perhaps we should see Hutton as a fulfilment of Tony’s promise to be "whiter than white". We wrongly assumed that he would achieve it without a paint job!)

]]> By: Neil Moore-Smith http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-290 Neil Moore-Smith Mon, 08 Mar 2004 13:56:28 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-290 So "a separation of powers [is] vital to maintain public confidence"? Who told Tony Blair that this was the case? I certainly don't feel that way, and I've never heard it being raised as a "vital" topic of conversation. What is discussed frequently, however, is the way that Tony Blair increasingly acts like a dictator, changing things either on a political whim, or for his own benefit, without any form of consultation to find out what the public really want. So much for public confidence. The best "separation of powers" would be to separate Tony Blair and his cronies from power. So "a separation of powers [is] vital to maintain public confidence"?

Who told Tony Blair that this was the case? I certainly don’t feel that way, and I’ve never heard it being raised as a "vital" topic of conversation. What is discussed frequently, however, is the way that Tony Blair increasingly acts like a dictator, changing things either on a political whim, or for his own benefit, without any form of consultation to find out what the public really want. So much for public confidence.

The best "separation of powers" would be to separate Tony Blair and his cronies from power.

]]> By: Tony http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-287 Tony Sun, 07 Mar 2004 11:01:21 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/04/308#comment-287 So, once again the PM says that people are entitled to disagree with him, but will not make any difference. Its about time that instead of his 'I am right and you are all wrong' approach he actually listened and took ideas on board - but I doubt his ego will let him admit he may be wrong at times.....still, they do say that power corrupts....... So, once again the PM says that people are entitled to disagree with him, but will not make any difference. Its about time that instead of his ‘I am right and you are all wrong’ approach he actually listened and took ideas on board - but I doubt his ego will let him admit he may be wrong at times…..still, they do say that power corrupts…….

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