» Monday, August 21, 2006

John Prescott

PMS confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister was working in Whitehall for the majority of this week and they should check with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for details.

Briefing took place at 13:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)

John Reid

Asked if John Reid was on holiday the PMS referred them to the Home Office.

Briefing took place at 13:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Miscellaneous

PMS reminded everyone that the next lobby would be on Tuesday because of the Bank Holiday.

Briefing took place at 13:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Monday, August 14, 2006

Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister

The Prime Minister's Spokesman told journalists that the Prime Minister had spoken to President Musharraf of Pakistan on Friday to thank him for his country's contribution and work on the intelligence lead counter terror operation. The Prime Minister had also spoken to Prime Minister Siniora on Saturday who had thanked the Prime Minister for his efforts in helping to bring about the cessation of hostilities. They also discussed the immediate way ahead and the longer-term search for peace in the region. The Prime Minister had been speaking to officials over the weekend and he had spoken to the Deputy Prime Minister last night as well as the Home Secretary and Douglas Alexander. The Prime Minister continued to keep his holiday plans under review.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

Middle East


Asked where the Foreign Secretary was, the PMS said her understanding was the she had left New York but that people should speak to the Foreign Office for details. The PMS also informed journalists that Hilary Benn had indicated that he would be visiting the region in the near future. Asked about a parliamentary recall, the PMS pointed out that the situation had moved on significantly since the letter had been sent. There were no plans to recall parliament at present. Asked how confident the Prime Minister was that the ceasefire would hold, the PMS reiterated what the Prime Minister had said in response to the resolution being passed. He had said that it was tragic that so many innocent lives, Lebanese and Israeli, had been lost over the past weeks. We must now take the necessary steps to ensure that it is never repeated and of course that the passage of the resolution is immensely welcome. The Prime Minister had gone on to say that that there would continue to be difficulties until it was clear that the combination of Lebanese forces and the UN multinational force could be effectively deployed in returning control of the South of Lebanon to the Lebanese government. We were now following closely the work to pull together an international force and that planning would now intensify both in New York and in Beirut.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

DPM/Airports/Counter-Terror Operation


Asked which airports the Deputy Prime Minister had visited, the PMS said that he had visited Stansted, Humberside and Doncaster. Put that the person interviewed on the Today Programme had not seemed to share the views of the Deputy Prime Minister and had complained about the security and queues, the PMS said that the Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander had addressed the points made on the radio this morning. The Deputy Prime Minister had said that he had been impressed by the patient understanding that he had heard expressed by the people on the ground. Asked whether the Deputy Prime Minister had talked to airline chiefs, the PMS referred the journalist to what the Transport Secretary had said. The government was in regular contact with the bodies involved including the airlines.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Armed Forces Cuts

Asked about the reports suggesting that the armed forces are being asked to make cutbacks, the PMS said that she had not heard a source on where those reports had come from.

Briefing took place at 16:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

» Monday, August 7, 2006

Middle East

The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) told journalists that the Prime Minister was in Downing Street and had been working over the weekend on the situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister had briefings and meetings with advisors, as well as working on draft texts and on securing maximum support for the UN resolution. The Prime Minister had spoken on the phone a great deal to leaders, including Kofi Annan, President Bush, President Chirac, President Putin, Prime Minister Persson, Prime Minister Siniora, Prime Minister Olmert, Prime Minister Zapatero, and Prime Minster Prodi. The Prime Minister had also spoken to Margaret Beckett, the Deputy Prime Minister, and to Hilary Benn, as well as our Ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones-Parry.

Briefing took place at 7:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

UN-Mrs. Beckett

Put that the Iranians had rejected the UN's proposals on their development of nuclear weapons, and what we were we going to do about it, the PMS said that there would be discussions in New York.

Briefing took place at 7:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

Afghanistan

Put that another British soldier had died in Afghanistan, so was there any consideration for sending out extra troops on top of what we had already promised, the PMS said that the Prime Minister extended his condolences sincerely to the family and friends of the soldier who had been killed. As we had said before, our troop levels would be guided by the commanders on the ground. If or when we received such a request, we would respond at that time.

Briefing took place at 7:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

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