Downing Street Says » Deputy Prime Minister

Asked whether the Prime Minister had wanted to take away Dorneywood from the Deputy Prime Minister in the reshuffle, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that we had said all that we wanted to about reshuffles until the next one, whenever that may be. Put that people had a right to know whether the Prime Minister thought it was appropriate for the Deputy Prime Minister to have these perks, the PMOS said that he thought people wanted to know what the Prime Minister thought the Deputy Prime Minister’s role was. The Prime Minister had set that out very very clearly in his letter of appointment. That role was a mixture of chairing important cabinet committees on important subjects and representing the Prime Minister and the government in important meetings overseas, as he had done last week in Finland on preparations for their presidency of the EU.

Asked why it was appropriate for him to have these privileges when other ministers work on more difficult portfolios, the PMOS said that the implicit criticism in the question was not founded. The role of chairing cabinet committees on key subjects was an important one. He accepted that it was not one done before the public eye, but in reality however, that in a way underlined it’s importance. Inevitably in any government there were policy areas that needed to be ironed out between departments and the Deputy Prime Minister played a very important role in ensuring that happened.

Asked whether the Prime Minister was happy that the Deputy Prime Minister’s package was complete, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had very clearly set out in this reshuffle, and more explicitly than ever before, what he thought the roles and priorities were for each member of the government and that included the Deputy Prime Minister. Asked who had Chevening, the PMOS said that Chevening was being transferred from Jack Straw to Margaret Beckett. It would remain with the Foreign Secretary role.

7 Comments »

A Message to the Prime Minister

How can you be so out of touch with public feelings?

I believe there is no room for sentiment in politics and you may "have come in with Mr Prescott" but you should certainly send him out now!!!

Any good work you have done as PM is totally negated with your obvious delusion about how the electorate feel! Get rid of Mr.Prescott and his perks now!

Leslie Cantwell
Surrey
UK
Comment by Leslie Cantwell — 31 May 2006 on 1:32 pm | Link
A Message to the Prime Minister

How can you be so out of touch with public feelings?

I believe there is no room for sentiment in politics and you may "have come in with Mr Prescott" but you should certainly send him out now!!!

Any good work you have done as PM is totally negated with your obvious delusion about how the electorate feel! Get rid of Mr.Prescott and his perks now!

Leslie Cantwell
Surrey
UK
Comment by Leslie Cantwell — 31 May 2006 on 1:33 pm | Link
Could you explain, for the benefit of the masses, exactly why this country is sending another 1,000 troops to Afghanistan when France,Germany, Italy, Holland, Sweden and the rest of the European block have chosen to be sensible and stay clear?

We are no longer a world power, we are a small entity within the European community and are NOT a universal police force. There was nothing in your electoral manifesto about spending millions, not to count the loss of human life, simply as you wish to align yourself publicly with American foreign policy….Mr Blair, you have delusions of adequacy!!!

Leslie Cantwell
Comment by leslie cantwell — 11 Jul 2006 on 11:23 am | Link
An open letter to mr Blair,

You are suffering from delusions after so many years in power.
Great Britain no longer commands the power in the world any longer, so why are you engaged in World politics all the time when you should be at home, repairing the damage your cabinet has done to this country?

You have spent too long listening to your own spin team and now suffer the misfortune of believing your own spin!

The NHS is in a mess
Crime statistics are a joke
Beaurocracy has gone mad
Inflation is about to hit a 10 year high
Immigration control is out of control
The Iraq war was your greatest folly
You misinformed the electorate on your reasons for going to war

The heady days of ten years ago when you came swanning into power have gone, along with your mandate and you are now, sadly, almost a caricature of what silly Prime Minister behaves like. Your saving grace will be to depart promptly and with dignity lest you do further damage to the Country.

Sincerely,

Leslie cantwell
Comment by leslie cantwell — 16 Jan 2007 on 2:29 pm | Link
Dear Prime Minister,

Well, you have exceeded yourself today. Your Government is in meltdown, your are being questioned by the Police and a key adviser to you has been arrested, again!

I was feeling quite low last weekend suffering the after effects a virus but I must thank you for
brightening my day when, I happened to come across an article indicating that you will probably earn in excess of \xA32 million pounds as an advance payment for your autobiography and will earn further millions on the US lecture circuit.

You will certainly will go down in history as the
WORST Prime Minister this country ever had and your legacy, I believe that’s currently your favourite word, will be a memory of your supercilious grin hiding the deceit and complete
ineffectiveness of your presidential style whilst occupying Number 10. You are an absolute disgrace to this Country!
Comment by leslie cantwell — 2 Feb 2007 on 3:07 pm | Link
Oh, Mr Blair..are you still here?

Leslie Cantwell
Surrey
UK
Comment by leslie cantwell — 20 Feb 2007 on 3:30 pm | Link
I write with regard to the statement made by the Prime Minister today wherein he denied the road fund charges that are in the planning stage will be a stealth tax.

At some stage in the future the motorist will say enough is enough! Consider the current levy heaped upon us all:

1. 80% taxation on fuel
2. Congestion charges
3. Possible mileage tax up to \xA31.30 per mile

Public transport is the worst in Europe as well as being the most expensive.

The government must understand the populace will simply not accept tax after tax after tax without a decent return in facilities. Yet another great "New Labour" legacy heaped upon us and well, after all we are British, so what can we do?
Just put up with it? Times are changing Mr Blair and along with public attitudes!

Yours faithfully

L cantwell
Comment by Cantwell — 21 Feb 2007 on 11:05 am | Link

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» Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Deputy Prime Minister

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