Downing Street Says » 2004

» Thursday, November 11, 2004

Hunting

Asked what the Prime Minister's view on the progress of the Hunting Bill was, the PMS told journalists that since the process was still going on would be unhelpful to comment on it before it was completed. The Prime Minister had already made his views known on hunting.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Arafat

Asked if the Prime Minister believed that the passing of a figurehead such as Arafat provided an opportunity, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said he would not use the exact words used in the question. While we had never hidden the disagreements between Chairman Arafat and the Government it was important to recognise that Yasser Arafat had helped establish the vision of a two-state solution. The important thing now was to move forward and implement that vision and to do so in a way that not only recognised the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, but also guaranteed the security of the Israelis. We have now entered a new era where there will be a new Palestinian leadership, and the important thing now would be to help the new leader fill the vacuum that would be left by the Israelis disengagement from Gaza. This would be done by helping with the policing, administration, economic and political development fronts. This would lead the way forward to final status negotiations. What was important, therefore, about the Washington trip was that a signal of intent was sent out to help drive the process forward. As the PMOS said earlier in the week, he did not see the trip ending with a detailed timetable or proposals, but he did think it would send a signal of very serious intent to the region and to the respective government machines, and it would also set up a work plan that would determine the strategy of both governments from now on.

Briefing took place at 11:15 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Washington Talks

Asked if the President needed to push more force behind the momentum towards a peace process in the Middle East, the PMOS said that of course the Government wanted to drive it forward, and that they also recognised that the US was in a unique position to help drive that process forward. The PMOS also said that the two governments could not move it forward unilaterally. They could help the players in the regions, but they could not impose on them, and instead they would have to work with the Palestinians and the Israelis to drive it forward.

Briefing took place at 11:15 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Childcare Implementation

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman briefed journalists on the Government's plans to reform childcare provision in the UK, he said the following:

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (6)

Ivory Coast

Asked if there were any plans to evacuate British nationals from the Ivory Coast, the PMOS said that the usual contingency plans had been made in case the situation deteriorated any further. Asked if those usual contingency plans involved the deployment of British troops, the PMOS said he had nothing to add at this stage. We would naturally watch the situation very carefully.

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

Black Watch

Asked if the Prime Minister had saved the Black Watch regiment, the Prime Minster's Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that as we had briefed the previous night, no decision had been taken as yet. This would be based on recommendations from the military. The PMOS said that those who had not rushed into print earlier in the morning had been right to wait as o decisions had been made.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Wreath

Asked if No10 was involved in the wreath-laying decision by families of soldiers killed in the Iraq War, the PMOS answered that no, they were not. All they did was point out to the families that there was nowhere formally to lay a wreath in Downing Street. If they wished to bring a wreath into Downing Street and hand it at the door, that would be fine, but there is no memorial as such.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Ken Bigley Memorial Service

Asked if the Prime Minister was going to attend Ken Bigley's memorial service at the weekend, the PMOS replied that it depended entirely on the wishes of the Bigley family. The Prime Minister would do whatever they wanted him to do.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

» Tuesday, November 9, 2004

Iraq

Asked if there was any concern at the withdrawal of the major Sunni party from the Iraqi coalition government as a result of the attacks on Fallujah, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said he did not actually recognise the description of the party that was given. As he understood it, the party concerned had 4 out of 100 members of the National Assembly, and it had one Cabinet Minister who had chosen to leave the party, rather than the Government. The PMOS also pointed out a statement made by Prime Minister Allawi's Official Spokesman that stated that Prime Minister Allawi had met with the Fallujah tribal leaders as well as those from the Al Ambar Province in that area, and that they would be issuing a statement of support. Prime Minister Allawi had continued to consult with other Sunni leaders and the Shammr tribe which had been very positive.

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

Middle East/Arafat

Asked if the lack of a Palestinian leader should lead to the postponement of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington later in the week, the PMOS replied that not only was he was not going to prejudge the events in Paris, but also that the answer was "no".

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

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» Thursday, November 11, 2004

Hunting

Arafat

Washington Talks

» Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Childcare Implementation

Ivory Coast

Black Watch

Wreath

Ken Bigley Memorial Service

» Tuesday, November 9, 2004

Iraq

Middle East/Arafat

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