Downing Street Says » 2007 » December

» Friday, December 7, 2007

Chinese Foreign Minister

The Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) started by updating journalists on the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to London yesterday when he met with David Miliband and had a pre-arranged meeting with Simon McDonald (the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Advisor), which the Prime Minister dropped in on for approximately 20 – 30 minutes. At this meeting they […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Dowing Street Christmas Tree

Asked why there was no Downing Street Christmas tree, the PMS replied that there was a Downing Street Christmas tree; it had been put up that morning. original source.

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Reform Treaty

Asked why the Prime Minister thought it was not necessary to go and sign the Reform Treaty in person, the PMS replied that we had made no such decision; as he had said endlessly at numerous lobby briefings, it was the Prime Minister’s hope to be able to go but we had logistical issues around […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Supermarket Pricing Fixing

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that two of the country’s biggest supermarkets were fixing the price of milk, the PMS replied that it was often forgotten that it was the Prime Minister, when he was Chancellor, who brought forward very significant reforms, in conjunction with Patricia Hewitt (then Secretary of State for DTI), […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

President Barroso

Asked if the Prime Minister had been upset with President Barroso’s comments regarding the EU Africa summit, the PMS said one should not draw that conclusion. The Prime Minister had made his position very clear regarding the reasons why he did not feel as though it was appropriate for him as the British Prime Minister […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Prime Minister Prodi

Asked what would be on the agenda for the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, the PMS replied that the discussions would be wide-ranging; obviously there was the Lisbon summit next week where we were expecting a discussion about the European response to globalisation. Other live European and international policy issues would be […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

English Lessons

Asked if the Prime Minister thought it was time to consider cutting the entitlement to free English lessons, the PMS replied that if it was a specific departmental issue, then it would be best to raise it with the department. In general the Prime Minister was very supportive of the principle that people coming into […]

Briefing took place at 16:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

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